A charismatic fraudster managed to get himself hired as a nurse for a month in a retirement home in Quebec, and he was even responsible for the narcotics cabinet.
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“I really never noticed anything fishy. He always knew exactly what to do, ”testified nurse Kim Patenaude, who worked with Mathieu Vallée-Baillargeon. The latter defrauded to get hired as a nurse.
Prosecuted by the Ordre des infirmières et des infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ), the 38-year-old man was convicted of eight criminal offenses at the Court of Quebec on November 2. He was fined $ 27,000 plus costs. He was not present in court.
Several prohibited actions
“We are dealing with a repeat offender, a person who has a history of fraud, which explains how he was able to act and go unnoticed. […] The facts in this case are surprising, ”said Judge Sylvie Marcotte.
In October 2019, the man was hired as a nurse for more than a month at Auberge aux Trois Pignons, in Quebec. According to Ms. Patenaude, care coordinator, he performed several actions reserved for nurses.
Besides, he was responsible for the key to the cupboard of narcotics, powerful drugs that require tight control.
“He inspired confidence, he had a lot of charisma,” Ms. Patenaude testified.
At times, Mr. Vallée-Baillargeon refused to perform a complex act by delegating to a colleague, explained to the Journal OIIQ lawyer Anthony Battah. Fortunately, it appears that no resident suffered from mistreatment.
“So much the better, but that’s not what is at stake. This is the risk, ”maintains Me Battah.
In a job interview, he introduced himself as a nurse who had worked in the army, according to witnesses interviewed. Mr. Vallée-Baillargeon even said he had post-traumatic stress disorder, and that is why he wanted to work with seniors.
Checks made
The management of the residence emphasized that it has checked the permit to practice with the OIIQ. In an email sent to the OIIQ investigator, Mr. Vallée-Baillargeon would have explained that he had taken advantage of the fact that another nurse had the same name to get hired. He “had remorse”.
“During the interview, I checked on the board of the order, his name appeared with the number [de licence] he gave us, ”says owner Guy Lemay.
In addition, Mr. Vallée-Baillargeon “was really adored by all the residents,” added Ms. Patenaude. Around Christmas, he suddenly stopped coming to work. “He smelled like hot soup, we wanted him to sign documents, and he didn’t sign them. He was stretching the sauce, ”explains Mr. Lemay, joined by The newspaper.
Mr. Vallée-Baillargeon has been convicted of fraud on several occasions in the past. The newspaper did not attach it.
– With the collaboration of Kathleen Frenette
Examples of the care he gave to residents
- Wound assessment
- Dressing change
- Pulmonary and cardiac auscultation
- Insulin administration
- Responsible for the key to the narcotics cabinet
- Pain assessment
- Venous punctures
- Management of hypoglycaemic attacks
Not a first
Persons convicted of illegal practice as a nurse
- 2020-2021 : 3
- 2019-2020 : 1
- 2018-2019 : 1
- 2017-2018 : 1
- 2016-2017 : 4
- 2015-2016 : 5
Source : OIIQ
Reactions to fraud
“I made a big mistake and I regret it a lot. […] Times are tough to find a career. I was in training for approximately a month and a half. I later resigned because it didn’t make sense. I mastered my work adequately, without ever giving any advice or hypothesis or vaccine or blood test. I never endangered anyone and I took care of the people there. “
– Email from Mathieu Vallée-Baillargeon sent to the syndic of the OIIQ (document filed in court)
“He’s a very comfortable person, we feel he has a presence and a certain charisma. He is a handsome man. He knows what he’s saying, he tells regarding his experience in the army, so you believe it straight away. […] He had prepared her well, his interview. “
– Magali Guinard, General Manager of Auberge aux Trois Pignons
“It is the employer and not the OIIQ who is responsible for verifying the right to practice of a new employee and then annually for all of her employees. The OIIQ supports employers in the annual verification of the right to practice by carrying out checks of employee lists in batches. “
– Order of Nurses of Quebec