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Tatiana Velasquez, 12484705
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct in or around 2013 to 2016 when she submitted false claims under her employee group benefit plan and received at least $11,080.00 in relation to the false claims. The Member entered into a payment agreement with her employer to pay back the amount she received in relation to the false claims.
Based on the Member’s admissions, the Panel found the Member:
- contravened a standard of practice of the profession or failed to meet the standards of practice of the profession;
- misappropriated property from a workplace;
- falsified a record relating to her practice;
- signed or issued, in her professional capacity, a document that she knew or ought to have known contained a false or misleading statement; and
- engaged in conduct, relevant to the practice of nursing, that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as dishonourable and unprofessional.
The College of Nurses of Ontario (“CNO”) and the Member presented the Panel with a Joint Submission on Order requesting that the Panel make an order that included the following:
- an oral reprimand;
- a 3-month suspension; and
- terms, conditions and limitations, including:
- attending 2 meetings with a Regulatory Expert; and
- employer notification for 12 months.
The Panel accepted the Joint Submission on Order, concluding that the proposed penalty was reasonable and in the public interest.
Aggravating factors considered by the Panel included:
- there were multiple claims made over a period of several years;
- the value of the claims was in excess of $11,000.00;
- the claims were accompanied by a false declaration made by the Member; and
- the conduct is a serious breach of the Member’s professional responsibilities.
Mitigating factors considered by the Panel included:
- the Member accepted full responsibility for her conduct by admitting to all the allegations of professional misconduct and by agreeing to the Agreed Statement of Facts and the Joint Submission on Order;
- given the large number of pending similar cases, the Member chose not to defer this proceeding until the results of the “test case” were known;
- the Member is remorseful;
- the Member has taken responsibility at both the employer level and CNO level;
- the Member was a new nurse at the time of the events; and
- the Member does not have any prior discipline history with CNO.
