The Standard (St. Catharines)

Wettlaufer had history of putting patients at risk

Ex-nurse accused of killing 8 seniors was once fired over medication errors: Docs

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A former Ontario nurse accused of killing eight seniors in her care had been suspended from a longterm care home several times for medication-related errors before she was fired for “failing to follow insulin protocol,” newly released court documents show.

The documents — filed by authoritie­s in an applicatio­n to obtain records — show Elizabeth Wettlaufer was fired from the Caressant Care nursing home in Woodstock, Ont., after an alleged incident in which she incorrectl­y and overly medicated a resident, who “experience­d distress” as a result.

In a letter of terminatio­n cited in the documents, the nursing home says the alleged incident was part of a “pattern of behaviours that are placing residents at risk.”

The letter notes Wettlaufer had “an extensive disciplina­ry record for medication-related errors” and had received several warnings as well as one-, three- and five-day suspension­s.

The home’s director of nursing also told police Wettlaufer was dismissed for how she handled insulin, the documents show.

Meanwhile, a doctor consulted by investigat­ors told them insulin levels would never be checked at the time of a person’s death and would be difficult to determine during an autopsy, the documents said.

The 49-year-old former nurse is charged with eight counts of first degree murder, four counts of attempted murder, and two counts of aggravated assault.

Police alleged Wettlaufer used drugs to kill the seniors while she worked at nursing homes in Woodstock and London, Ont., between 2007 and 2014.

Court documents have also alleged Wettlaufer injected the six other alleged victims with insulin.

 ?? DAVE CHIDLEY/THE CANADIAN PRESS ?? Elizabeth Wettlaufer is escorted into the courthouse in Woodstock, Ont. on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. Newly released court documents show a former Ontario nurse accused of killing eight seniors in her care had been suspended from a long-term care home...
DAVE CHIDLEY/THE CANADIAN PRESS Elizabeth Wettlaufer is escorted into the courthouse in Woodstock, Ont. on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. Newly released court documents show a former Ontario nurse accused of killing eight seniors in her care had been suspended from a long-term care home...

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