Home / Crime and Justice / Manitoba Nurse Loses License After Patient's Heart Stops
Manitoba Nurse Loses License After Patient's Heart Stops
30 Jan
Summary
- Nurse administered fentanyl and succinylcholine without doctor's consent.
- Patient suffered cardiac arrest following the improper drug administration.
- Licensing body cited gross incompetence and negligence in the decision.
A registered nurse in Manitoba has had her license revoked and received a $10,000 penalty after admitting to severe professional misconduct. Nipaben Patel wrongly administered fentanyl and succinylcholine to a patient in November 2025 without prior doctor's consent.
This critical error resulted in the 55-year-old patient experiencing respiratory and cardiac arrest. Patel failed to adhere to guidelines for administering these "high alert medications" and neglected essential patient checks.
Further investigation revealed Patel's inexperience and failure to communicate with the healthcare team. She had not practiced as a registered nurse for 13 years prior to this incident, having previously worked in India and as a healthcare aide in Canada.
The College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba cited "gross negligence" and stated that Patel's actions demonstrated an "astounding lack of judgment." The decision emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust and ensuring patient safety.
Authorities are now reviewing the process that allowed Patel to register in Manitoba without a mandatory clinical competence assessment, suggesting this oversight may have contributed to the near-fatal event.
