THE LORI DUPONT STORY LESSONS LEARNED

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THE LORI DUPONT STORYLESSONS LEARNED

• Presented by Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN
• ONA President
• April 22, 2009
• Newfoundland Labrador
• Health-Care Safety Conference
• St. Johns, Newfoundland

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LORI DUPONT
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THE TRAGEDY

• 
  2005
• January 6 Agreement between Daniel and Hotel
  Dieu
• February 7 Daniels suicide attempt
• March 10 Daniel is discharged from hospital
• April 8 Loris complaint to Hotel-Dieu
  management
• April 11 Lori applies for a peace bond

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Tragedy contd

• June 1 Daniel returns to work
• June 24-25 Three ONA members report Daniel for
  inappropriate
  sexual behaviour
• August 25 ONA member expresses concern for
  safety of herself and Lori
• October 31 ONA member reports that Daniel is
  staring at Lori with hatred and rage

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Tragedy contd

• November 1 Daniels full privileges restored
• November 5 Lori scheduled with Daniel on call
• Lori calls in sick
• November 12 Daniel stabs Lori to death
• November 15 Daniel dies of overdose

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ONAS RESPONSE

• Filing of grievance
• Investigation by the Joint Health and Safety
  Committee
• Pushing the Ministry of Labour for a fatalities
  investigation
• Asking for an Inquest
• Supporting the Members
• Working with the Family

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THE INQUEST

• September 24 December 11, 2007
• 10,000 pages of disclosure
• 51 witnesses
• 176 exhibits
• The experts

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I am doctor. I am God.

• Windsor Star Headline
• October 31, 2007

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RECOMMENDATIONS

• The Public Hospitals Act - doctors privileges
• Hospital Accountability for Physician Behaviour
• Treatment of Physicians with Mental Health or
  Disruptive Behaviours

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• Workplace Violence Policies
• Diversity Officer

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• Physicians Health Program
• Involve chief nursing executive

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• Occupational Health and Safety
• Hotel-Dieu Hospital

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THE ARBITRATION

• Public v. private
• The interim award
• Postponement for the Inquest
• Mediation process

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THE MEDIATED SETTLEMENT

• Jury recommendations enforceable
• Hotel-Dieu Violence Program
• Safe Workplace Advocate
• External Fact Finders

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• Expedited Arbitration Process
• Mandatory physician training on workplace
  violence
• 5,000 annual bursary
• Mediator to make recommendation for possible
  damages to certain ONA members impacted by events
  

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LESSONS LEARNED

• UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF VIOLENCE
• LEARNING HOW TO RECOGNIZE VIOLENCE
• KNOWING THE STEPS TO TAKE
• TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

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DEFINITION OF VIOLENCE

• Physical Assault
• Verbal/Emotional/Psychological Abuse
• Stalking
• Harassment/Bullying/Mobbing
• Domestic Abuse
• From Clients, Patients, Co-workers,
  Family and/or General Public

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RECOGNIZING RISKS

• History of violence and/or abusive behavior
• Failure to comply with authorities
• Obsessive behaviour
• Escalation of violence
• Depression
• Suicide attempts/threats

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• Threats to victim
• Stalking of victim
• Attempt to control victims activities
• Attempts to isolate/confine victim
• Actual or pending separation
• Step-children

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STEPS THAT CAN BE TAKEN

• Violence Policies
• Joint Health and Safety Committee
• Ministry of Labour
• College of Physicians and Surgeons
• Grievance/Arbitration
• The Police
• The Media
• Support the Victim

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THANK YOU LETTER FROMBARB AND JOHN DUPONT

• On behalf of our daughter, Lori Dupont, her
  daughter, Taylor, congratulations on a job well
  done, a battle well fought, another hurdle
  overcome, on this long, seemingly endless road. A
  hard-won victory, a very important one for
  employees of H.D.G.H. one which I am sure will
  benefit other ONA members as well.
• I have always felt that nurses are the very
  heart soul of every hospital. The scholarship
  will be a great assistance to others seeking a
  career in nursing, will be a lasting tribute to
  our daughter.

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• My hope is that it will also serve as a reminder
  that every employee has the right to a safe
  workplace environment, free from harassment
  violence that Lori Dupont, RN, be remembered,
  not because of her violent death, but for the
  person she was a gentle, quiet, soft-spoken
  young woman, who loved nursing treated her
  patients, as well as her family, friends,
  co-workers with dignity, respect compassion.
• Thank you.
• Eternally Grateful,
• Barb John Dupont