MNU President Sandi Mowat called on the government Monday night to change the Regulated Health Professions Act that publishes the names of nurses battling drug addictions.

Mowat delivered a passionate speech to Health Minister Theresa Oswald and other government representatives during a legislative committee meeting.

"Drug addiction is a serious illness that requires a supportive environment and treatment. Many people with this illness are afraid, isolated and broken when they start treatment," Mowat told the committee. "We believe that publishing the name of the nurse as she struggles to regain her health is a terrible way to show support. It is kicking someone when they are down."

A resolution was passed at the MNU AGM in April calling upon the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba to stop publishing the names of nurses in their magazine and on their website who were disciplined for drug abuse.  The resolution was also amended to include the Colleges of Licensed Practical Nurses and the Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba.

In her presentation, Mowat cited an example of the damage caused by publishing a nurse's name. One nurse was a recovering addict who completed a rehab program and stopped using several years ago. She was told by coworkers that not only her name but also where she worked, her history of drug abuse, that she attended meetings and was subject to random drug testing were published.

"Now being branded an addict, she is automatically the first suspect of any infraction," Mowat said. "Recently, some narcotics went missing in her workplace. Her colleagues automatically assumed it was her."

It later came to light that the drugs went missing when she wasn't working. 

In doing research for the government committee presentation, the MNU found no evidence that naming nurses would protect the public. In fact, all addiction specialists we spoke to said it would have the opposite effect.

The discipline process protects the public. Employers may suspend the nurse and/or put restrictions on her or his license. A disciplined nurse is required to abide by restrictions, including the number of hours they can work, a minimum of fourteen random drug tests, provide the College with copies of all medication prescriptions and attend a 12 Step Program twice a week.

"Anyone is able to contact the colleges to ascertain the status of any nurse on the registry," Mowat said. "That, in combination with the discipline process, we believe safeguards the public."

The MNU asked Minister Oswald to amend the Regulated Health Professions act so that a nurse's name and personal health information is not released unless making it available to the public substantially outweighs the privacy interests of the investigated member.

Also, the MNU is pressuring the government to create an appeal process for disciplined nurses. If it is passed, the College must give notice to a nurse when they decide to release their name and personal health information. At that time, the nurse has the ability to make an appeal to the Court of Queen's Bench before the information is published.