By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On May 26, 2017, a Sanford, Florida, woman who performed illegal cosmetic silicone injections was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison. According to prosecutors, the illegal procedures done by Deanna Roberts, led to serious health problems and the death of a prominent night club performer.
Illegal Injections.
From reports, Deanna Roberts bought about 178 gallons of non-medical grade liquid silicone between 2004 and 2015. She apparently told officials checking on this that she used the substance to lubricate medical equipment, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Despite what she told officials, prosecutors said she falsely claimed to be a licensed medical practitioner and illegally injected liquid silicone into at least five people during cosmetic procedures.
Come on, you know that if she purchased 178 gallons of silicone, she must have injected hundreds of patients.
Health Risks of Liquid Silicone.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not allow liquid silicone to be injected because of the health problems it can cause. Many of her “clients” were hospitalized with respiratory problems and other ailments when the silicone migrated to different parts of the body like their lungs, which is what it does. A prominent Atlanta performer died after the substance moved into her lungs, heart, brain and other organs, only 36 hours after the injection.
Roberts pleaded guilty. She was sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Why Don’t Patients Check Out the Credentials of Their Physicians?
Why don’t patients check out the credentials of their physicians? This just seems like common sense. Yet Florida abounds with phony doctors, phony paramedics, phony dentists and others practicing medicine or some other health profession without being licensed or even knowing anything about the field. Is it driven by the expense of medical procedures? To a certain extent it may very well be. It may also be partially explained by a failure of the “patients” to comprehend the possible adverse consequences of what may be viewed as a “minor” procedure. To a large extent, the unlicensed individuals who do this also prey on foreign born immigrants and foreigners, trusting them because they speak the same language.
I think the problem goes way beyond just the lack of licensure of the person providing the medical services. I constantly see cases of licensed medical doctors holding themselves out as experienced practitioners in medical specialties for which they are not board certified. I seen cases where board certified obstetricians/gynecologists are practicing pain management, where family practice physicians are performing plastic surgery procedures, where dentists are running medical spas providing cosmetic laser services, where nurses are performing cosmetic medical procedures, etc.
If you were diagnosed with a brain tumor, would you go to a family practice doctor to have it removed because he didn’t charge as much. If you needed a hernia repair, would you go to the “doctor” at the flea market, because she was so inexpensive? Consumers really need to be more worried about the experience and credentials of their physicians and check them out completely. Neighbors who have “doctors” set up clinics in their homes and garages need to rat these people out. Phony plastic surgeons who only advertise in Spanish on Spanish radio stations need to be reported to the authorities. Florida needs to do more about these unlicensed and licensed, but unqualified, health practitioners.
Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced with Investigations of Health Professionals and Providers.
The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and other health providers in Department of Health (DOH) investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigations, FBI investigations, Medicare investigations, Medicaid investigations and other types of investigations of health professionals and providers.
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Sources:
Hayes, Crystal. “Sanford woman sentenced after silicone injection scheme led to drag queen’s death.” Orlando Sentinel. (May 26, 2017). Print.
Eldridge, Ellen. “Woman who killed Atlanta drag queen with silicone injection heads to prison.” The Atlanta Journal Constitution. (May 26, 2017). Web.
About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.
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