On March 27, 2018, a panel of the Inquiry Committee approved a Consent Agreement between CRNBC and Gary Dromarsky of Victoria, to protect the public in response to an incident of sexual misconduct with a client and multiple breaches of the interim Undertaking he signed to protect the public during CRNBC’s investigation, which constitutes professional misconduct.
On September 14, 2017 Mr. Dromarsky attended a client at home to provide private foot care services. While in attendance, he put his hand under his client’s underwear and massaged her buttocks. Mr. Dromarsky admits that while he had his hand under his client’s underwear, he may have touched her perineum, the area between the anus and vagina; the client described the touch as being in her vaginal area. Mr. Dromarsky acknowledged that this massage was “out of scope”. The matter was soon after reported to law enforcement and to CRNBC, at which time Mr. Dromarsky signed an interim Undertaking to protect the public while CRNBC investigated. The interim Undertaking required him to cease all private nursing care, remain in the sole employ of his current employer, and see female clients only with a chaperone. The terms of the interim Undertaking were public.
Soon after signing the interim Undertaking, Mr. Dromarsky provided private foot care to two clients in their homes, in breach of the Undertaking. This was promptly reported to CRNBC, at which time he entered a second interim Undertaking, agreeing to cease nursing practise and become a non-practising registrant while CRNBC investigated. The terms of the interim Undertaking were public. Mr. Dromarsky admitted to the two breaches only after the evidence was presented to him by the regulator.
The Inquiry Committee was of the view that the conduct outlined above falls at the most serious end of the spectrum of misconduct, with regard to both professional and sexual misconduct. The Inquiry Committee also considered that Mr. Dromarsky agreed to remedial education, chart audits, and a learning plan in 2009 in relation to two occasions in which he acknowledged providing massage services to clients when attending for other treatment purposes. At the time he explained that he had intended to assist his clients, and had missed cues indicating that the massages were unwanted. The Inquiry Committee was of the view that cancellation of Mr. Dromarsky’s registration was the only appropriate outcome to protect the public. Mr. Dromarsky allowed his nursing registration to lapse on March 1, 2018. He is no longer legally permitted to practise nursing in British Columbia.
In addition to agreeing to the above public notice and the final registration status of “Cancelled”, Mr. Dromarsky has agreed not to apply for reinstatement of registration for at least five years. If reinstatement is sought in the future, this matter would be considered by the Registration Committee in relation to whether the requirement for good character was met.
The Inquiry Committee is satisfied that the terms will protect the public.