The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) said the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) has abandoned its attempts to discipline nurse Shelley Wilson. .“We applaud the CRNS for revisiting the key principles of the Court of Appeal decision in Strom to arrive at this result,” said JCCF lawyer Andre Memauri in a Monday press release. .The release said Wilson is an experienced nurse practitioner serving south Saskatchewan, where she offers clinical services to rural communities suffering healthcare shortages. .Wilson expressed views on social media about COVID-19 vaccines, masks, and treatment options in 2021, which did not abide by public health or mainstream media narratives. .The CRNS proposed Wilson enter into a voluntary agreement, requiring her to admit her expression amounted to professional misconduct. If she disagreed, she could be referred to a disciplinary hearing. .The release said the CRNS has a record of attempting to discipline nurses for expressing views on social media. Strom v. Saskatchewan Nurses’ Association clarified the limits of the college restricting speech. .The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal said criticizing COVID-19 restrictions “does not necessarily undermine public confidence in healthcare workers or the healthcare system.” .“Indeed, it can enhance confidence by demonstrating that those with the greatest knowledge of this massive and opaque system, and who have the ability to effect change, are both prepared and permitted to speak and pursue positive change,” said the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal. .“In any event, the fact that public confidence in aspects of the healthcare system may suffer as a result of fair criticism can itself result in positive change.”.JCCF lawyers were able to convince the CRNS to abandon its attempt to demand Wilson admit professional misconduct. .This case comes after Ontario specialist physician Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill appeared before the Health Professionals Appeal and Review Board on Oct. 11 to request cautions ordered against her for speaking out against COVID-19 restrictions be overturned..READ MORE: Ontario doctor sanctioned for anti-lockdown tweets appeals decision.“It was unreasonable for the CPSO (College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario) to insist that doctors’ comments align with the government,” said Libertas Law lawyer Lisa Bildy. .Gill expressed concerns about the harms caused by lockdowns and the lack of ethical and scientific justification for them. She was targeted by an online campaign in 2020, where people were encouraged to file complaints about her tweets to the CPSO.
