Nurse struck off for telling cancer patient Covid vaccine caused their illness
A nurse who told a patient that Covid vaccines “cause your cancer” has been struck from nursing records.
Penny Ann Senner was working as an adult nurse at Dorset Health University NHS Foundation Trust when the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) misconduct panel made the comment.
Four of the six charges against the nurse were proven in court, including that she had given the patient a leaflet containing a link to an anti-vaccination website.
The board determined that Ms. Senner, through her actions, sought to undermine the public’s confidence in public health advice.
Anonymous “Patient A” told the panel she saw Ms Senner for a routine appointment in August 2023 and the nurse “slyly” brought up the subject of Covid vaccines.
In his witness statement, the patient said: “He asked if I had been vaccinated, I thought it was a routine inquiry.
“I informed her that I had received the vaccinations and supplements. Ms. Senner then said ‘that was the cause of your cancer.’
“Ms. Senner made it clear that the vaccines were the cause of my cancer and that this was ‘concealed’.”
Patient A added that the nurse’s comments were framed as a “direct and definitive assertion” and not as a “suggestion or possibility.”
He said: “His tone and choice of words left no room for interpretation. It was a clear and concise statement.”
Asked by Ms Senner’s legal representative, Niall McCrae, whether showing that Covid vaccines could increase the risk of cancer or accelerate its progression would change the nurse’s view, Patient A replied: “No, it won’t change my view.
“I was in a very vulnerable position. I was going through chemotherapy. I had no hair. I had several medical appointments a week.
“I didn’t need someone to come and tell me I could prevent my own disease.”
Patient A told the panel that she presented him with a leaflet taken from Ms Senner’s car, which the patient accepted “out of genuine concern”.
He said: “When I later looked at the website referred to in the leaflet I realized it was an anti-vaccine website and not a new or reliable source of information as I had been told.
“I felt relieved, but the experience stayed with me and made me feel distressed for a while.”
The court was told that this conversation made Patient A fearful of having her children vaccinated against Covid and worried about getting cancer.
Responding to the allegations, Ms Senner said she was “deeply saddened” to hear that Patient A was upset, adding “this was certainly not my intention”.
The nurse was also found to have accessed “numerous” patients’ records without permission or legitimate clinical reason.
The panel heard Ms Senner began creating patient lists shortly after the rollout of Covid vaccines and described her reason for accessing the records as “research”.
The decision stated: “The Board accepted that Ms. Senner did not intend to harm Patient A, but considered that her misconduct had caused permanent emotional and psychological harm to Patient A.”
“Ms. Senner did not act courteously or professionally during her interaction with Patient A and did not recognize or acknowledge Patient A’s vulnerability at that time.”
He added: “A member of the public would be shocked to learn that a registered nurse had shared personal beliefs with patients, knowing that these were inconsistent with their employer’s policies and UK health guidelines.”
The board ordered that Ms. Senner be struck from the nursing register and that an 18-month temporary restraining order be issued so that she could appeal.
