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 Last modified June 15, 2004  

Misappropriation of Funds

Joy Aimola, RN
98-0764-5
Toronto
Para Med Health Services

Allegations and Plea

The College alleged that the member committed an act of professional misconduct by misappropriating funds from her workplace by claiming payment for client visits that she did not make.

The member admitted to the allegations, and the College and the member submitted a written statement to the Panel of the Discipline Committee in which they agreed to the following facts.

Agreed Statement of Facts

The member claimed for 20 visits to a client after his discharge even though she did not make these visits. The member also billed for visiting another client twice daily for 10 days, but she had only visited him once a day. In total, the member received $626.75 for visits that she did not make.
At the time of the incident, the member was experiencing various personal difficulties. She admitted to the agency that she had claimed for client visits that she had not made, reimbursed the agency in full and expressed remorse for her actions.

Finding

The Panel found that the facts supported a finding that the member committed professional misconduct as alleged.

Submissions on Penalty

Counsel for the College sought an oral reprimand and a 30-day suspension. For a year after her return to practice, the member must provide any employers with a copy of the Panel’s decision and notify the College of their names and addresses.
The member agreed with the proposed penalty, with the exception of the suspension. She submitted that her actions were neither pre-planned nor deliberate. The member noted that she was having difficulties at the time of the incidents, had admitted her mistake and had readily cooperated with the agency.

Penalty

The Panel accepted the penalty proposed by the College, with the exception of the suspension. The Panel found the member to be forthright and that her conduct was not deliberate. The penalty addresses specific deterrence for the member and serves to protect the public.

 

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