Nurse Found Guilty of Misconduct After Inappropriate Conduct Toward Teen Patient
Dublin: An investigation by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) Fitness-to-Practice Committee has found a nurse guilty of professional misconduct, including inappropriate interactions and sexual harassment of a teenage patient at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
The case involved Mark Lester Ordonez, a Filipino nurse who was dismissed from the hospital following the incident, which took place two years ago. He faced five charges, including sending personal and inappropriate text messages to the teenage patient. The messages were sent to the girl’s contact number, which was in fact her mother’s phone.
Ordonez pleaded guilty to the charges and expressed remorse, asking the committee for forgiveness and a second chance. However, committee chairperson Mary Leahy described his actions as a serious breach of professional conduct and ethics, saying they represented behaviour “never expected from a registered nurse”.
Details of the Incident
The teenage patient, who was anxious about an upcoming Leaving Certificate examination, had come to the hospital for an endoscopy accompanied by her mother. Ordonez, who conducted the procedure, allegedly made several inappropriate comments, including asking if her stress was related to boys, remarking on her appearance, and comparing her to his ex-girlfriend in Germany.
The girl testified that the situation in the examination room was distressing and that she felt deeply uncomfortable due to the nurse’s behaviour and gaze. She reportedly fainted during the encounter, likely due to a vasovagal episode, which Ordonez later referenced in a follow-up text.
Later that day, while shopping, the teenager’s mother received a text message from Ordonez, which read:
“Sorry to bother you, but I can’t help it. If you’re not happy with me sending the message, let me know. I’ll be sad if you do.”
A subsequent message stated:
“What happened to you earlier is called vasovagal syncope.”
These messages prompted the family to file a formal complaint. Beaumont Hospital then terminated Ordonez probationary employment. On July 25, 2023, the mother received another message from Ordonez stating:
“I was fired. I hope you are at peace now.”
Findings of the Committee
The NMBI committee determined that the messages and comments were sexual in nature and highly inappropriate, particularly considering the vulnerability of the patient. It was also found that Ordonez misused medical records to obtain the teenager’s contact information, breaching GDPR regulations.
Councillor Miska Hanaho emphasised that such behaviour constituted a grave violation of patient trust and professional standards. Ordonez, who previously worked in the Philippines, claimed that his actions were intended as humour and that he did not understand the gravity of GDPR laws in Ireland.
Ordonez has since begun working at St. James’s Hospital in Dublin, as of April 2024. He issued an apology to the patient and her family, citing unfamiliarity with Irish culture and claiming he intended to alleviate the girl’s anxiety through humour. However, the committee concluded that his actions were both inappropriate and unjustifiable in a professional healthcare setting.
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