A nurse in Dorset informed a patient that their cancer was caused by Covid vaccinations and handed them an anti-vaccination leaflet. The nurse, Penny Ann Senner, who worked at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust, has been removed from her position due to these actions following a misconduct hearing by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
The panel found four out of six charges against the nurse to be true, including providing the patient with a leaflet containing a link to an anti-vaccination website. The patient, referred to as Patient A, reported that during a routine appointment in August 2023, Senner raised the topic of Covid vaccines in a subtle manner.
Patient A stated that Senner claimed the vaccines were the direct cause of her cancer and that this information had been suppressed. Patient A emphasized that Senner’s statement was definitive and left no room for interpretation. Despite being asked if her opinion would change if vaccines were linked to cancer risk, Patient A remained firm in her stance, stating she was vulnerable at the time and did not need such information.
The patient also mentioned that Senner gave her the leaflet, which she later discovered was from an anti-vaccination source, causing distress. Patient A expressed concerns about her children receiving Covid vaccinations due to fears of cancer. Senner, in response to the allegations, expressed regret for causing distress to Patient A.
In addition to the incident with Patient A, Senner was found to have accessed multiple patients’ records without authorization or valid clinical reasons. The panel noted that while Senner did not intend to harm Patient A, her actions resulted in lasting emotional harm. Senner’s behavior was deemed unprofessional and lacking empathy towards Patient A’s vulnerability.
The panel decided to strike Senner off the nursing register with an interim suspension of 18 months to allow for a potential appeal. It was concluded that Senner’s actions aimed to undermine public confidence in public health guidance.