A clinical nurse manager has been suspended from the nursing register for nine months by the High Court for professional misconduct. The case involved Ann Marie Ryan, a registered psychiatric nurse, who failed to call an ambulance for a dementia patient under her care after the patient drank cleaning fluid.
The suspension order was confirmed by the High Court, which found the nurse's actions constituted professional misconduct. The incident occurred at a healthcare facility, though the specific location and date were not detailed in the public court judgment.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland brought the case before the High Court. The court's decision to suspend the nurse for nine months underscores the duty of care healthcare professionals owe to vulnerable patients.
This ruling serves as a disciplinary measure and a reminder of the critical protocols required in patient safety, especially for individuals with conditions like dementia who may be unable to communicate distress effectively.
