A Nova Scotia nurse has been reprimanded for misappropriating swine-flu vaccine and immunizing his family in their home during an outbreak of the pandemic last fall.
In a decision posted on its website, the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia says Andrew Thomas Bursey was on sick leave when he took the vaccine from his undisclosed workplace on Oct. 28, 2009, and vaccinated himself.
The decision says Mr. Bursey, a long-time nurse, also reconstituted the vaccine without proper training and administered the vaccine to his family without authorization, outside of a "qualified health care facility."
"Mr. Bursey administered the vaccine to his family without ensuring that processes were in place to provide emergency care should an adverse event occur," the decision reads.
"Furthermore, Mr. Bursey reconstituted the vaccine without considering the possibility that his actions could have led to the wastage of the vaccine. Six doses of the vaccine were wasted as a result of Mr. Bursey's actions."
The college's complaints commission found that Mr. Bursey's actions constituted professional misconduct and issued the reprimand on June 1.
Apart from the reprimand, a condition was also placed on Mr. Bursey's licence, requiring him to pay for and complete university studies on professional responsibility.
The decision says Mr. Bursey, who had no previous disciplinary record from the college, has consented to both the reprimand and the condition on his licence.
The college serves as the regulatory body for more than 9,000 registered nurses, including nurse practitioners, licensed in Nova Scotia.