At a hearing held on 16 and 17 December 2013 the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) considered one charge of professional misconduct and one charge of breaching section 100 (1)(d) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, laid by a Professional Conduct Committee against, Ms Cesilia (Tillie) Katie Laufiso, midwife formerly of Wellington but now in Dunedin (the Midwife).

The professional misconduct charge alleged she:

• failed to complete the Recertification Programme and to provide a Recertification Programme Plan;
• practised without a practising certificate despite the Midwifery Council (the Council) taking significant steps to remind her;
• spoke with Council staff in an unacceptable manner.

The Midwife denied Charge 1 that she acted unprofessionally or inappropriately but accepted that she did practise for some time without a current practising certicate.

The Tribunal found that all of the particulars in Charge 1 were established.  However, the Tribunal considered that the manner in which she spoke with Council staff did not on its own amount to professional misconduct but was conduct cumulatively when taken with the other Particulars of the charge.

The Tribunal found that Charge 2, practising without a practising certificate from 1 April  to 30 April 2012 was established.

The Tribunal imposed conditions on the Midwife's practice for 24 months from the date she resumes practice and ordered her to pay a $14,500.00 towards the costs of the Tribunal and the prosecution of the charges. The Tribunal censured the Midwife and directed publication of its decision and the summary.