Fake nurse at centre of proposed class-action lawsuit against B.C. health authority
Global News
An imposter nurse who worked at B.C. Women’s Hospital is the subject of a class action lawsuit against the Provincial Health Services Authority, the organization that hired her.
An imposter nurse who worked at B.C. Women’s Hospital is the subject of a proposed class-action lawsuit against the Provincial Health Services Authority.
The notice of civil claim, filed on behalf of plaintiff Miranda Massie in B.C. Supreme Court on Thursday, alleges that anyone who was a patient at B.C. Women’s from June 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 suffered battery when Brigitte Cleroux, administered treatments in the absence of legal consent.
“As a result of learning that Cleroux was not a registered nurse, many Class Members sustained mental distress and nervous shock all of which was foreseeable to the PHSA,” the document claims.
“At all material times, PHSA was vicariously liable for the actions of Cleroux who was employed by the PHSA.”
None of the allegations has been tested in court and a statement of defence has not been filed.
Cleroux is also facing numerous criminal charges and has a long history of flouting the law.
On Nov. 25, Vancouver police announced that the 49-year-old had been charged with fraud over $5,000 and personation with intent after she allegedly provided care to patients at the hospital while using the name of a real nurse. Cleroux has not completed nursing school or held a valid nursing license anywhere in Canada.
It was not immediately clear how many patients she had worked with, what duties or services she had provided, or whether there had been any adverse outcomes relating to her work. It was later revealed she had also briefly worked at View Royal Surgical Centre on Vancouver Island.
