Tougas was attendant to the beneficiaries in spite of his criminal record

Photo courtesy Sûreté du Québec

VAT New

Monday, 26 February, 2018 19:39

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Monday, 26 February, 2018 19:39

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The serious charges against a former attendant to the recipients at the hospital of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, who allegedly assaulted him and filmed the patients raised many questions. How a man with a heavy past legal he could get a job with vulnerable clients?

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André Tougas was charged with sexual assault on patients of the Hôpital du Haut-Richelieu. The latter had a criminal record already well-stocked before his most recent arrest. Despite its history dating back to the 80’s and 90’s, the 54 year old man has been able to occupy a position of client care attendant for almost six years, with patients vulnerable to the psychiatric unit.

“This was not necessarily the norm in the health care network that to make a systematic evaluations of criminal record for new employees. Then, this man had a criminal record without even realizing it,” explains Benoit Geneau, director of programmes for mental health and addiction of the CISSS-Montérégie Centre.

The CISSS-Montérégie Centre said always check the antecedents of those who apply for a job in the network from 2015 only. As this measure is not retroactive and therefore does not apply to employees hired prior to 2015 as Tougas, who was employed by the hospital since 1999.

The CEO of the Council for the protection of patients is of the opinion that background checks should extend to all employees of the health network in connection with the patients.

Hôpital du Haut-Richelieu indicates that “history as those of Mr. Tougas prevent today an applicant to be hired, because they are incompatible with his duties as orderlies. It is indicative of the tortious conduct”, has responded to VAT New.es

Tougas would have hit during five years on patients in the hospital, before being fired last June. Is that the case of Andre Tougas will encourage the ministry of Health to review the background check procedures background?

The department responds that it is prohibited by the Charter of rights and freedoms to refuse to hire, or penalizing a person simply because he or she has a criminal record, if the offence has no link with employment.