The provincial government regulates health professions in British Columbia through governing bodies known as colleges. The colleges are governed by the Health Professions Act. The BCCNM is required by law to protect the public from incompetent, unethical or impaired nursing. The college recently issued notice online of a consent agreement with Duncan, related to “practice issues” that occurred in October and November of 2019. The issues, the notice states, are related to Duncan “leaving his shift early without permission, using his personal cellular telephone to record footage from the facility video surveillance system of a resident in a vulnerable and undignified situation and showing the video footage to colleagues.”
Kamloops nurse suspended after leaving shift early and recording vulnerable patient
A Kamloops nurse has been disciplined for transgressions committed in the fall of 2019.
Melvin Duncan, a licensed practical nurse, has been suspended for three weeks for his actions.
The punishment also includes a public reprimand, educational coursework and meetings with a practice support consultant from the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives.
According to the BCCNM, Duncan left his shift early without permission and used his personal cell phone to record footage from the facility’s video surveillance system.
That footage showed a resident from an unnamed facility “in a vulnerable and undignified situation,” which Duncan shared with his colleagues.