Fake nurse Brigitte Cleroux apologizes in court
Serial impostor Brigitte Cleroux appeared in court on the final day of her sentencing hearing in Vancouver, where she expressed deep remorse for her actions. Dressed in all black and reading from a white notepad, Cleroux offered a heartfelt apology to the victims she deceived and harmed.
“I wish the victims to heal and apologize for being involved in their care when I shouldn’t have,” she said. “I recognize that my actions as an unlicensed nurse have caused damage to the medical system, as patients deserve to be cared for by licensed professionals to ensure their safety.”
Cleroux, 52, pleaded guilty to 11 charges in July, including fraud, forgery, impersonation, theft, assault, and assault with a weapon. These charges stem from her fraudulent acquisition of health-care jobs in British Columbia between 2019 and 2021, using stolen, forged, and falsified credentials.
With a criminal record dating back to 1988, Cleroux has a history of similar offenses in Alberta, Quebec, and Ontario. She has also admitted to fabricating credentials to secure a teaching position in Alberta and currently has outstanding warrants in Florida and Colorado.
Associate Chief Justice Heather J. Holmes has postponed her sentencing decision until December 20. The Crown prosecutor has requested an eight-year sentence to be served consecutively to the seven-year term Cleroux is currently serving in Ontario for impersonating a nurse in Ottawa. Meanwhile, the defense is seeking a concurrent five- to six-year term.
Cleroux’s fraudulent activities began in 2019 when she obtained a position as a dental assistant at a Surrey clinic while still on parole from her Alberta convictions. She later secured roles as a sedation and general duty nurse at B.C. Women’s Hospital and the View Royal Surgical Centre in Victoria using a stolen nurse’s identity and registration number.
The real nurse, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, was unaware of Cleroux’s actions until the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives issued an alert about the impersonation. The impact on the real nurse, who was on maternity leave at the time, was significant.
A psychiatric report presented during the sentencing hearing revealed that Cleroux exhibits anti-social, narcissistic, and histrionic personality traits but has no major mental disorders. While defense counsel suggested that Cleroux may have attended nursing school at some point, Justice Holmes expressed skepticism due to Cleroux’s history of deception.
Despite causing psychological distress to some patients, there is no evidence in the agreed statement of fact that any of Cleroux’s patients suffered physical harm. She treated approximately 900 patients at B.C. Women’s Hospital and around 50 at the Victoria clinic during her fraudulent tenure.
As Cleroux awaits her sentencing, her words of apology and regret stand as a reminder of the harm caused by her actions and the importance of upholding the integrity of the medical profession.
