Mental health nurse banned for having inappropriate relationship with patient

A mental health nurse was banned from working in the healthcare sector because he entered into a relationship with a female patient in a facility. He did not report the relationship and also asked her to keep it secret.

The regional disciplinary court in Amsterdam decided that the man should be removed from the register. He can appeal against this, but as an additional measure, he is banned from working in the healthcare sector until then.

The nurse worked in the high and intensive care as well as geriatric care of a mental health clinic between 2016 and 2023. The disciplinary judges did not disclose which facility it concerns. The man and the woman had had friendly contact since 2020, including via email and WhatsApp. The conversations gradually became more sexual, and eventually they also had sex with each other. This happened in the closed ward where he worked and where she was admitted, but also also in their own homes. He deleted all mutual emails and apps and asked the woman to do the same.

The woman reported the sexual contact, but this was initially not taken seriously due to her illness, according to the disciplinary court. In September last year, the woman filed another complaint. The institution forwarded this to the supervisory authority. The man initially denied it, but admitted it when the investigators showed him his emails. The man was fired in September last year.

According to the disciplinary board, the man "abused his position as a care provider towards a patient who was very vulnerable in psychiatric terms and who had been entrusted to his care". According to the judges, he also does not understand what the consequences have been for the patient. He no longer works in healthcare and does not want to, but the disciplinary board wants to prevent him from changing his mind and returning to work in healthcare. That is why he is being removed from the register.