British Columbia nursing regulators have stripped Kamloops nurse practitioner Lori Chern of her independent practice rights after an inquiry panel determined she committed prima facie sexual misconduct by allegedly propositioning a patient inside her private residence.
She cannot see patients alone. Under an interim protection order issued by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM), Chern is now barred from private clinical consulting and restricted exclusively to supervised hospital settings while investigators complete their probe.
Local police clearance requirements triggered the initial appointment. The male complainant reached out to Chern following a recommendation from a community pharmacist, seeking a mandatory medical assessment and signed documentation required by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Chern instructed the man to report directly to her home for the clinical examination.
Conditions inside the residence crossed professional boundaries almost immediately. According to the regulatory complaint, Chern positioned herself directly beside the patient to take his blood pressure before launching into remarks described as openly flirtatious.
She praised his body. Regulators noted Chern told the complainant he displayed the heart rate and blood pressure of an 18-year-old, complimenting his physical shape before interrogating him about his personal sex life.
Chern then framed an explicit proposition as medical advice. The complaint details that she informed the patient that sex was vital for a man to regulate himself and maintain good health—and immediately offered to engage in sexual activity with him.
The man refused. Yet Chern refused to drop the matter, telling the complainant he could contact her outside working hours if he changed his mind. She then dismissed him without completing the RCMP medical forms he had paid to secure.
Legal scrutiny moved swiftly once the patient filed a formal complaint. The BCCNM inquiry committee evaluated the testimony under the British Columbia Health Professions and Occupations Act, ruling that the evidence established a credible, unrefuted baseline of professional sexual misconduct requiring immediate public protection measures.
The Investigation Committee is expected to make a provisional assessment of the facts, and in doing so should limit its assessment of the complaint to whether it is manifestly unfounded or manifestly exaggerated, and whether it raises a significant risk of harm.
British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives Inquiry Committee
| Regulatory Review Parameter | Official Finding & Case Status |
|---|---|
| Practitioner Named | Lori Chern, Nurse Practitioner |
| Primary Practice Jurisdiction | Kamloops, British Columbia |
| Governing Statute | Health Professions and Occupations Act |
| Central Allegation | Sexual proposition during home RCMP evaluation |
| Interim Disciplinary Sanction | Barred from independent practice; restricted to hospitals |
| Procedural Posture | Prima facie case established; inquiry ongoing |
Chern’s public professional profile on LinkedIn states that her independent clinical practice focuses specifically on the wellness and general health of men over the age of 40.
Formal disciplinary hearings through the BCCNM inquiry committee will proceed in Vancouver, where Chern faces potential license suspension or permanent cancellation under provincial health statutes.