Shore family files complaint about Sick Kids' staff

The family of Lisa Shore has lodged a complaint against the chief nurse of Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children with the College of Nurses of Ontario, the self-regulating body of the nursing profession. 

Sharon Shore, Lisa's mother, cites chief nurse Jean Reeder in a four-page complaint filed Friday with the college, alleging a ``disgraceful, dishonourable and unethical standard of behaviour'' by Reeder in connection with her 10-year-old daughter's death, ``and subsequently.'' 

The family also has filed complaints against Ruth Doerksen and Anagaile Soriano, the nurses who cared for Lisa, and Mary Douglas, a nurse educator. 

Lisa died on Oct. 22, 1998, less than 12 hours after Shore brought her to the hospital for relief from pain caused by a leg injury. Her condition was not life-threatening. 

Last month, a coroner's jury ruled that Lisa's death was a homicide. Homicide, as defined by a coroner's jury - which by law can't assess blame - is a neutral definition: the killing of a person by another. 

Hospital president Michael Strofolino announced yesterday that Reeder ``self-reported'' to the college on Friday, and a Toronto lawyer said three other nurses who are also the subject of complaints by the Shore family reported to the college as well. 

Sharon Shore said yesterday she was ``flabbergasted by the amazing coincidence'' that after she stated on television that she was going to file complaints, ``these same four nurses self-reported to the college the next day, just hours before I delivered my complaints.'' 

The nursing college establishes and enforces standards of nursing practice. 

College spokesperson Cindy Campbell said that although the college's investigations process is normally triggered by a complaint, nurses can report incidents they have been involved in ``which may be of concern to the college about their nursing care.'' 

Campbell said a decision will be made as to whether to hold a public hearing into the complaints after an investigation has been completed.
 
The college can impose sanctions ranging from censure to permanent expulsion from the profession. 

Reeder said yesterday in a recording for a hospital telephone hotline that a college representative told her no nurse has ever reported themselves to the college before. 

Lawyer Liz McIntyre said yesterday that Doerksen, Soriano and Douglas had asked the college to investigate the allegations and, if necessary, hold a public inquiry, ``so that they have the opportunity to clear their names.'' 

As the hospital's top nurse, Reeder, who testified at the inquest, is responsible for disciplining the hospital's 1,300 nurses internally. 

``I decided to self-report because my leadership and ethical conduct has been questioned publicly, and as a registered nurse, I'm in a leadership role,'' Reeder said. ``I welcome the opportunity to be reviewed by my regulatory body and outside experts.'' 

Reeder told The Star she will ``absolutely'' remain in her job pending the college's investigation. Doerksen and Soriano have been suspended with pay since the inquest began last November. 

Within hours of the coroner's jury verdict, Dr. Alan Goldbloom, a hospital vice-president, announced that Reeder would conduct an internal review of the circumstances of Lisa's death. The verdict also prompted an interim probe by Toronto's homicide squad to determine if a criminal investigation is warranted. 

Reeder, who has both a medical degree and a doctorate in nursing, and specializes in ``bio-ethics,'' retired from the United States nursing corps in 1995 with the rank of colonel after a 24-year military career. 

The complaint alleges that Reeder, occupant of one of Canada's most prestigious nursing positions, failed to report ``substandard and negligent care'' provided by Doerksen and Soriano to the college as required by law. 

It also alleges that she engaged in conduct that would be reasonably regarded as ``disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional,'' for allegedly coaching Doerksen on how to answer questions from her courtroom seat. 

It alleges that Reeder cannot conduct an impartial investigation into events ``as she has shown herself to be strongly biased'' in favour of the two nurses. 

Strofolino told The Star yesterday that Reeder is no longer being called on to investigate the circumstances surrounding Lisa's death. 

Instead, he says the hospital will rely on the information generated by the college, and that ``we will be looking at outside leadership to review our actions as well.'' 

In a separate complaint filed Friday, Shore alleges that Doerksen ``knowingly falsified documents, wrote false information, and omitted medically necessary information'' in a nursing flow sheet and in ``progress notes'' she wrote before and after Lisa's death. 

The complaint alleges that Soriano, a novice nurse with only five months experience at the time of Lisa's death, lied under oath and failed to comply with the Coroner's Act. 

Strofolino said yesterday that the hospital had formally reported Doerksen and Soriano to the college, and asked for a review of the care they provided.