An Inuvik nurse who has been convicted of stealing drugs and forging documents at the hospital will now face another hearing.

A Board of Inquiry will decide whether Benjamin Cox can once again work in a hospital.

Steven Leck, who directs the Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, says the association will contact Cox and decide how to proceed. The association can decide if it will enter into a board of inquiry or an alternate dispute resolution process which could result in a settlement agreement.

Leck says the inquiry would assess Cox's future eligibility to practicing nursing.

“It’s too early to make that determination, but the association has the full ability to either require someone to take courses, or require someone to go to a treatment program, participate in supervised practice, drug testing, or we could revoke the license permanently,” said Leck.

Cox was suspended from his position last summer and he is currently barred from working in hospitals.

Leck said there is no need for hospitals to change any rules because of this incident, but he said the rules need to be enforced more thoroughly.

“I think it’s more important for everyone to do their due diligence – make sure that what’s occurring on paper or electronically is actually what’s happening in real life,” he said. “I think we’ve had excellent cooperation with the employer on this issue, so we feel that both the employer and us are doing what’s necessary to protect patients and the public,” said Leck.

Cox stole drugs from the Inuvik Regional Hospital between 2009 and 2011. The theft was eventually discovered by the hospital’s own investigation.

Hospital staff have said it will take time to rebuild trust among coworkers and patients.