Why are so many unlicensed doctors arrested in Florida?

After four people were arrested After a case of botched cosmetic surgery in Port St. Lucie, WPTV began looking into the issue of unauthorized medical procedures.

WPTV investigative reporter Dave Bohman found that there have been numerous clinic raids and arrests in South Florida and the Treasure Coast over the past decade.

Last month, Miami police arrested 29-year-old Angelina Andreoli after she claimed she posed as a doctor and administered Botox and lip filler injections. Investigators said she was unlicensed and not a doctor.

In West Palm Beach, Dr. William Marrocco was indicted in 2014 for having unlicensed assistants perform breast augmentation and facelifts, causing pain and disfigurement to patients. Marrocco and his assistants were later convicted and the clinic was closed in 2017.

In 2019, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s officials arrested Jose Espinoza-Aleman, who was later convicted of practicing dentistry without a license.

Deputies said he transported his dental equipment in a toolbox, adding that some patients had complained that his work had led to serious infections.

And then there’s the case of Malachi Love-Robinson, which made national headlines. Love-Robinson was convicted in 2018 of posing as a doctor and treating patients in West Palm Beach when he was just 17 years old.

WPTV wanted to know why there are so many fake doctors in South Florida and the Treasure Coast, especially in the field of plastic surgery. Bohman asked longtime plastic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Berman, who said fraud is particularly common in his field.

“It’s a very easy way to make a quick buck,” Berman said. “And the nice thing about Botox is that it’s short-lived. It only lasts three months, so if you really don’t want to be that scrupulous, you can take your money and leave.”

Police investigators said unlicensed doctors charge less than licensed doctors, making them more affordable but also more dangerous because of their lack of qualifications.

Scripps Content Only 2024