80s_Fan
03-22-2005, 10:15 PM
Nurse gets 2 years for abusing senior
Allison Hanes
Montreal Gazette
March 22, 2005
A nurse who punched an elderly nursing home patient in the face when she resisted taking her medication was sentenced to two years in jail Tuesday.
Olivier Pucher hung his head and looked at the floor as Quebec Court Judge Jean-B. Falardeau told him his training and professional background made his crime all the more serious.
"This was an absolutely defenceless person," he said.
Society cannot tolerate crimes of violence against its weakest members, Falardeau added, proscribing three years of probation for the 32-year-old once he is released from prison.
But the judge said Pucher might have avoided prison time had he acknowledged his actions and agreed to therapy.
A pre-sentencing report painted the nurse as narcissistic: concerned with what people would think of him and the worried about losing his job - but lacking any empathy whatsoever for his former patient.
Since Pucher refused all offers of rehabilitation, Falardeau said he was left with no choice but to throw him in jail.
"It’s unfortunate for him and it’s unfortunate for society, because I can only protect society for so long," the judge remarked.
Pucher, who was not represented by a lawyer, declined to address the court before he was led away to serve his term.
Pucher pleaded guilty last October to one count of assault causing bodily harm in the May 26, 2003 incident at the Mance-Decary Hospital.
The physically and mentally frail 81-year-old woman was struck in the face two to three times when she refused to take her dose of medication before bed, said prosecutor Cynthia Gyenizse.
The woman suffered severe bruising to her face that took weeks to disappear.
"This was a very vulnerable person who was incapable of defending herself," Gyenizse said. "What he did was unacceptable. We can’t have more of these kinds of cases."
The Gazette is following this story. Please read Wednesday's paper for all the details.
© Montreal Gazette 2005
Allison Hanes
Montreal Gazette
March 22, 2005
A nurse who punched an elderly nursing home patient in the face when she resisted taking her medication was sentenced to two years in jail Tuesday.
Olivier Pucher hung his head and looked at the floor as Quebec Court Judge Jean-B. Falardeau told him his training and professional background made his crime all the more serious.
"This was an absolutely defenceless person," he said.
Society cannot tolerate crimes of violence against its weakest members, Falardeau added, proscribing three years of probation for the 32-year-old once he is released from prison.
But the judge said Pucher might have avoided prison time had he acknowledged his actions and agreed to therapy.
A pre-sentencing report painted the nurse as narcissistic: concerned with what people would think of him and the worried about losing his job - but lacking any empathy whatsoever for his former patient.
Since Pucher refused all offers of rehabilitation, Falardeau said he was left with no choice but to throw him in jail.
"It’s unfortunate for him and it’s unfortunate for society, because I can only protect society for so long," the judge remarked.
Pucher, who was not represented by a lawyer, declined to address the court before he was led away to serve his term.
Pucher pleaded guilty last October to one count of assault causing bodily harm in the May 26, 2003 incident at the Mance-Decary Hospital.
The physically and mentally frail 81-year-old woman was struck in the face two to three times when she refused to take her dose of medication before bed, said prosecutor Cynthia Gyenizse.
The woman suffered severe bruising to her face that took weeks to disappear.
"This was a very vulnerable person who was incapable of defending herself," Gyenizse said. "What he did was unacceptable. We can’t have more of these kinds of cases."
The Gazette is following this story. Please read Wednesday's paper for all the details.
© Montreal Gazette 2005