What Is the CNO (College of Nurses of Ontario)?

In Canada, data has shown that healthcare mistakes are on the rise, with 1 out every 17 hospital stays involved in at least one harmful event, such as medical errors, between 2023 and 2024.

In response, regulatory bodies like the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) have increased their efforts to address this issue and protect patients. This health agency regulates the nursing profession and is a key safeguard for patients.

In cases of medical injury, the CNO’s involvement can provide crucial evidence of negligence or breaches of care, helping victims seek justice. 

In this blog, we will examine the CNO’s responsibilities, operations, and its critical role in supporting victims and birth injury lawyers to fight against healthcare mishaps.

Understanding the Concept of the CNO

The CNO was established in 1963, under the Regulated Health Profession Act and the Nursing Act, which govern the healthcare profession in Canada, with a particular focus on the regulation of nursing. 

Its founding was driven by the need to ensure nurses meet consistent professional standards to protect public health and safety. This regulatory supervision is vital for maintaining quality care and ensuring accountability in cases of medical negligence. 

In the event of birth injury claims, a birth injury lawyer can opt to reference the CNO’s findings to help validate claimed substandard health care. Below are the key roles of the agency:

• Establishing practice standards: The CNO creates and enforces clear standards for nursing practice in Ontario. These standards cover a wide range of areas, including patient care and professional conduct, to ensure nurses meet all requirements to provide safe and effective care.
• Licensing and certifying nurses: The CNO ensures that all practising nurses are fully qualified by overseeing the license and certification processes. Nurses must successfully complete rigorous educational and training programs to meet the standards set by the regulatory body—without this, they would not be allowed to practice in Ontario.
• Ongoing assessment: To maintain safe and high-standard healthcare in Ontario, the CNO regularly evaluates nurses’ professional conduct and performance, thus ensuring continuous efficiency at all times.

How does the CNO hold nurses accountable?

When a patient or family member suspects a nurse has acted negligently, they can file a complaint through the CNO channel. This process begins with a formal submission that outlines your concerns, which may include improper care, failure to follow procedures, or other breaches in nursing standards.

Once received, the nursing regulatory body conducts a detailed investigation, which often involves gathering medical records, interviewing witnesses, and assessing the nurse’s history in search of prior complaints or disciplinary actions.

If the investigation confirms that the nurse’s actions fall below accepted standards, the CNO can impose correctional measures, such as requiring additional training, suspending the nurse’s license, or in severe cases, revoking it altogether.

How the CNO’s Findings Can Strengthen a Medical Injury Claim

For victims pursuing a medical injury claim, findings from the CNO’s investigation can be of great use to a birth injury lawyer, as they help establish whether a nurse involved in a case has displayed a pattern of negligence or substandard healthcare in the past.

The nursing regulatory body’s documentation of these instances of misconduct also helps a birth injury lawyer reinforce your pursuit of justice.

For instance, suppose a family seeks compensation after a birth injury caused by a nurse’s medication error. If the CNO’s findings show similar mistakes or previous disciplinary actions, the representing birth injury lawyer can use this history to demonstrate a recurring problem in the nurse’s practice.

This evidence can also be used to prove liability, as it strengthens the case by showing the nurse’s actions were not isolated, but part of an ongoing issue.

What to Do If You Suspect Medical Negligence

If you suspect being harmed due to nursing negligence, then acting quickly and carefully can help strengthen your case. Here are essential steps to take: 

• Document the incident: Start by writing down all details of the incident as soon as possible. Include specific information such as dates, names, descriptions of the care provided, and any resulting symptom or injuries. 
• Gather medical records: Obtain all relevant medical records, such as treatment notes, charts, and discharge summaries. These records are helpful in substantiating timelines of events and the care you received.
• Report to the CNO: Submit a formal complaint to the CNO. This regulatory body will investigate and assess whether the nurse’s actions fell below Ontario’s medical standards of care. Any findings from this investigation could support your claim.
• Reach out to a birth injury lawyer: Consult a birth injury lawyer to handle your case. They are experts and have decades of experience in the medical law field. Hence, they are needed to help you understand your rights and guide you through the claims process.

Remember, early action can be beneficial if the CNO is already investigating the nurse in question, as their findings may reinforce your claims.

How Our Birth Injury Lawyers Can Get the Justice You Deserve

When facing a medical injury due to nursing negligence, having a knowledgeable medical attorney is essential. Sommers Roth and Elmaleh understand the legal demands of medical negligence claims and can make a meaningful difference in achieving a favourable outcome.

As one of Ontario’s most trusted birth injury lawyer teams, we have decades of expertise in the medical law field, which plays a critical role in these cases.

Our approach is thorough. It includes gathering necessary evidence such as medical records and witness statements, working with expert medical witnesses when needed, and analyzing CNO findings that may point to a history of negligence.

Whether it is a case involving a birth injury lawyer’s expertise or any other type of nursing negligence, our experience and personalized approach give you the best chance of achieving a successful claim.

With us, you gain a team of compassionate attorneys who are deeply committed to protecting your rights and guiding you through each step of the legal process.

For more inquiries, call Sommers Roth and Elmaleh at 1-844-940-2386, or contact us online to discuss your situation and explore new paths to securing justice and the compensation you truly deserve.