A London nurse who was charged after organizing an anti-lockdown protest in Victoria Park in the fall has lost her job following an internal investigation.
Kristen Nagle was terminated with cause, the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has confirmed.
"After initially learning of actions involving an NICU nurse at London Health Sciences Centre that were not aligned with LHSC’s values back in November, immediate action was taken to place her on an unpaid leave pending the results of an internal investigation, which is now complete," the hospital said in a statement.
Nagle, who has been a registered nurse since 2006, was one of three women charged under the Reopening Ontario Act with organizing an anti-lockdown protest in the downtown park on November 22.
"While we are not able to address the specifics of the investigation, we can confirm that the nurse has been terminated with cause. Safeguarding the health of our patients and their families, staff and physicians is of the utmost importance and remains our top priority," the statement from LHSC concluded.
Nagle also reportedly travelled to Washington. D.C. this month where she spoke at an event hosted by Global Frontline Nurses. The group has made unsubstantiated claims suggesting fraud surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Nagle suggested the current public health restrictions are "crazy" when one compares the number of COVID-19 deaths to the Canada's total population. The event preceded the Capitol Hill riot.
The College of Nurses of Ontario has launched an investigation into the actions of Nagle.
Supporters of Nagle have started an online petition on change.org arguing she should be allowed to continue to practice nursing. The petition states Nagle was not part of the riots at the U.S. Capitol building and quarantined upon her return to Canada.
"Is she a threat to patients? NO," the petition reads.
Since it was created two days ago, the petition has been signed more than 1,400 times.