Mental Health Nurse Who Strangled Patient Is Struck Off, UK

Main Category: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 24 Mar 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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A mental health nurse who attacked an ex-patient in his care was struck off the Register at a hearing by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in London on Tuesday 11th March 2008. The NMC's independent Conduct and Competence Committee heard that Russell Cox, 41, had started a sexual relationship with the ex-patient and had also strangled her in her home until she became unconscious in March 2006.

The panel found that Cox's actions breached the NMC's Code of Professional Conduct and meant that his fitness to practice was impaired by reason of misconduct.

In deciding to remove Cox from the Register - he had been on an interim suspension order following the assault - the panel took into account the seriousness of the attack and the circumstances in which the relationship began.

Cox started sexual relations with the ex-patient after she was discharged from the crisis intervention centre where he worked.

The panel listened carefully to evidence by Cox that his state of mind was fragile at the time of the assault but still believed he could be a danger to other patients.

Cox's trustworthiness was also questioned after the panel heard evidence that the assault was not an isolated incident and that he had been convicted in the past for a similar offence. The panel also did not believe that Cox had shown a genuine expression of regret or had apologised to the ex-patient he had assaulted.

NMC spokesperson, Colin Joseph, said: "This was a very serious departure from the NMC's Code of Professional Conduct involving an inappropriate relationship and a significant act of violence towards a highly vulnerable ex-patient.

"The panel was satisfied that the public interest could only be served by striking him from the NMC's Register."

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the UK regulator for two professions, nursing and midwifery. The primary purpose of the NMC is protection of the public. It does this through maintaining a register of all nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses eligible to practise within the UK and by setting standards for their education, training and conduct. Currently the number of registrants exceeds 674,899. The Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (The Order), sets out the NMC's role and responsibilities.

The independent panel is selected from a pool of individuals appointed by the Appointments Board. They come from a variety of backgrounds and are not NMC Council members, nor do they sit on any committee of the Council.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

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