The High Civil Court has ruled that a nurse who was previously warned about her performance can still be punished for neglecting her duties.
The court found that a warning from a supervisor does not constitute a disciplinary penalty and does not prevent further disciplinary action.
The case involved a nurse who was accused of neglecting a patient by forgetting her at the clinic after hours.
The nurse had previously received a warning from her supervisor about her performance.
But a disciplinary committee was formed to investigate the offence, and it concluded that the nurse should be also punished by receiving a seven-day salary deduction.
The nurse argued that the warning constituted a disciplinary penalty and that she could not be punished twice for the same offense.
However, the court disagreed, stating that a warning is simply a way for a supervisor to point out an employee’s mistakes and does not constitute a formal disciplinary action.
The court also noted that the nurse’s neglect of the patient was a serious offense that warranted disciplinary action.
The court ultimately ruled that the nurse could be punished with a seven-day salary deduction.