Kelowna nurse suspended for checking non-patient medical records

A Kelowna nurse has been suspended for eight days for accessing medical records of people that weren't patients.

Registered nurse Sondra Bader signed a consent agreement admitting to accessing medical reports and breaching patient confidentiality for an incident that took place in 2019.

According to July 20 B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives decision, Bader accessed the medical records of a person with whom they had no "work-related purpose."

The decision does not give any other details about why the nurse accessed someone else medical records.

READ MORE: Salmon Arm nurse that left residents in cold dark room suspended

The decision said Bader accepted an eight-day suspension and a "public reprimand."

The case highlights the steep penalties handed to nurses for accessing medical reports for no justified reason.

Early this month, a Salmon Arm nurse that purposely left seniors who were unable to sleep in a cold dark room and refused to give them blankets was suspended for seven days, a lesser punishment than for checking medical records in this case.

As part of her reprimand, Bader will also have to undergo remedial education on privacy and confidentiality.

No other details were given in the decision.

READ MORE: B.C. nurse suspended after senior had electric razor shoved in mouth

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