Nurse struck off for saying Covid jab 'caused cancer'

A nurse has been struck off after telling a patient that Covid vaccinations "caused your cancer".

Penny Ann Senner was employed at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust when she made the comments, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) misconduct panel heard.

The panel ruled Senner had attempted to undermine public confidence in public health advice with her actions - four out of six charges against her were found proven by the tribunal.

Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust has been contacted for comment.

The patient - refered to as Patient A - told the panel she saw Senner for a routine appointment in August 2023 when the topic of Covid jabs was broached in a "sly manner".

In a witness statement, she said: "She asked if I had been vaccinated, which I assumed was a routine inquiry.

"I informed her that I had received the vaccinations and boosters. Senner said that 'that's what caused your cancer'.

"Senner explicitly stated that the vaccines were the cause of my cancer and that this had been "hushed up".

Patient A added that the nurse's comments were not framed as a "suggestion or a possibility" but rather as a "direct and definitive claim".

"Her tone and choice of words left no room for interpretation. It was a clear and unequivocal statement," she added.

During cross examination, Senner's legal representative, Niall McCrae asked: "If it were shown that the Covid-19 vaccines could raise the risk of cancer or quicken the progress of cancer, would that change your view of the exchange?"

Patient A said no, because she was at a "very vulnerable state".

She said: "I was going through chemotherapy. I had no hair. I was having several medical appointments a week.

"I did not need somebody to come in and basically tell me that I could have prevented my own disease."

Responding to the allegations, Senner said she was "deeply sorry" to hear Patient A was upset, adding "this was certainly not my intention".

The nurse was also found to have accessed "numerous" patients' records without authorisation or a legitimate clinical reason.

The panel heard Miss Senner began compiling a list of patients shortly after the Covid vaccines were rolled out, noting the reason for accessing records as "research".

The ruling said: "The panel acknowledged that Senner did not intend to harm Patient A, however, it considered that her misconduct caused lasting emotional and psychological harm.

"Senner did not behave kindly or professionally during her interaction with Patient A and did not recognise or acknowledge Patient A's vulnerability at the time."

The panel made an order to strike Senner off the nursing register with an interim suspension order of 18 months to allow her time to appeal.