Fort Frances resident Lindsey Coyle has decided to relinquish her nursing license following a disciplinary hearing conducted by Ontario’s nursing regulatory body. This action comes three years after Coyle admitted guilt in the 2015 demise of an elderly patient.
Coyle, a registered practical nurse at La Verendrye Hospital, pleaded guilty to criminal negligence leading to the death of 76-year-old Hermina Fletcher in 2022.
During the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) hearing held via video on Thursday, the 40-year-old Coyle appeared somber, dressed in a plain black crew neck, and frequently gazing downward off-screen.
The CNO initiated its disciplinary procedures post the resolution of the criminal case.
In the hearing, Coyle admitted to professional misconduct by mistreating a patient, falsifying records, and engaging in behavior deemed disgraceful, dishonorable, or unprofessional by fellow members.
Expressing acceptance of the consequences, Coyle, who has been on day parole for a year, stated, “I understand that whatever I have to go forward with today is what I deserve.” She also mentioned using her incarceration time for reflection and expressed remorse.
Furthermore, Coyle has agreed to a permanent ban on practicing nursing in any capacity. The CNO will enforce this by prohibiting her from seeking a nursing license in the province again and will notify authorities in other jurisdictions should she attempt to register as a nurse there.
The disciplinary panel learned that in 2015, Coyle manipulated a record to increase Fletcher’s morphine dosage and later consumed the extra medication herself. The subsequent administration of the elevated dose by the night nurse, based on Coyle’s false documentation, resulted in the patient’s overdose and death.
Denise Cooney, representing the CNO, described the incident as a severe ethical lapse where Coyle abused her nursing authority and trust for personal gain.
Suspicious Theft Triggers Hospital Action
In January 2015, La Verendrye Hospital alerted the police about theft and a questionable death, as per Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) records.
Following an extensive investigation, Coyle faced charges including second-degree murder, criminal negligence causing death, theft, forging documents, and breaching trust.
In January 2024, Coyle received a two-year prison sentence post her admission of guilt regarding criminal negligence leading to death. The Ontario Court of Justice in Kenora determined that her alteration of Fletcher’s medication record was pivotal in the fatal overdose.
Additionally, Coyle was held accountable in a civil lawsuit and was instructed to pay $130,000 in damages to Fletcher’s estate in 2024.
Drug Theft Driven by Addiction, Court Documents Reveal
During the criminal court proceedings in 2022, it was disclosed that Coyle confessed to drug theft due to addiction issues.
The Crown attorney, citing agreed facts, highlighted Coyle’s drug abuse at work and her acknowledgment of being under the influence while on duty.
Coyle was granted day parole by Canada’s parole board in August 2024, allowing her to reside at home with her family. Apart from an alcohol relapse while on bail in 2020, she has maintained sobriety, as confirmed by Justice Robin Lepere in a family law-related Superior Court Case in August 2025.
Expressing remorse, Coyle conveyed her apologies to the CNO panel and her colleagues during the hearing.