Allegations
It was alleged that in or around 2016 through 2018 the Member committed acts of professional misconduct by submitting false claims through her employer’s group benefit plan. It was alleged that the Member received over $9,000.00 in relation to false claims submitted during that time period.
Member’s Position
The Member denied the allegations set out in the Notice of Hearing. The Member took the position that the claims which the College alleged were false were in fact proper claims submitted on behalf of the Member, her husband and child.
Discipline Committee’s Findings
A panel of the Discipline Committee of the College of Nurses of Ontario (the “Panel”) found that 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 client or workplace;
- falsified a record relating to the member’s practice;
- signed or issued, in the member’s professional capacity, a document that the member knew or ought to have known contained a false or misleading statement; and
- engaged in conduct or performed an act, relevant to the practice of nursing, that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as dishonourable and unprofessional.
Discipline Committee’s Order
The Discipline Committee directed that a further hearing be scheduled in order to determine an appropriate penalty to be imposed upon the Member.