B.C. nurse suspended for performing religious ritual on patient

A B.C. nurse has been suspended for four months for performing a religious ritual on a patient.

Licenced practical nurse Christopher Villafour admitted to performing the religious ritual on the patient in a public setting without their consent. According to a Sept. 23, B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives decision, the incident took place in June 2021.

The decision said Villafour performed a "religious ritual" in a public setting, without informed consent, and without consideration of the patient's Indigenous heritage.

The Surrey-based nurse signed a consent agreement admitting to the incident.

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Villafour has been suspended for four months and is prohibited from being the sole nurse on duty for a period of one year when he returns to work.

He will also undergo a period of mentorship for one year and complete training in ethics, trauma-informed care, and cultural safety and humility.

The nursing regulator said it is satisfied the terms will protect the public.

No other information was released.

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