Montreal respiratory therapist suspended for taking drugs meant for cardiac patient

A Montreal respiratory therapisthas been suspended after taking drugs meant for a patient undergoing heart surgery last year.

Sylvain Taillon, 47,who workedat the Royal Victoria Hospital, had three professional misconduct charges brought against him for incidents that occurred in April and May 2015.

In one incident on May 13, 2015, the Quebec order of respiratory therapistssaid Taillon consumed a portion of an anaesthetic that he was preparing for a cardiac patient.

The ruling says that Taillonleft the operating theatre suddenly during the surgery, saying he didn't feel well.

He was found unconscious and in respiratory arrest a short time later in an adjacent bathroom with four opened vials, a tourniquet and two needles next to him.

The patient experienced an elevated heart rate and hypertension as a result of the weakened dosethat the disciplinary board's report said was an indication of pain.

The report says Taillon later admitted that he only gave the patient 4.1 ccs of Sufentanil instead of the prescribed 5 ccs, and kept the difference for personal use.

In all three cases, Taillon was accused of illegally procuring drugs that belonged to the McGill University Health Centre. Two of the charges concerned Sufentanil while the other involved Fentanyl.

'Serious breach'

The MUHC dismissed Taillon after the incident on May 13, 2015, citing the breach of an earlier disciplinary ruling for similar misconduct.

The hospital would not comment further on the case.

In its disciplinary ruling, the Quebec order of respiratory therapists said Taillon's actions were a "serious breach" that brought disrepute to his profession.

Furthermore, Taillon, "seriously compromised public safety by appropriating a portion of a dose meant for a patient," the ruling said.

The documentnotes that Taillon is now in the care of a family doctor and is seeing a psychiatrist for drug addiction issues.

On top of his suspension, he is forbidden from accessing, administering and handling narcotics and controlled substances for five years.

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