Vampire facelifts, stem cell injections, laser treatments and more are all procedures performed by a woman who Polk County deputies say is a fake nurse.
Tuesday, 39-year-old Jesusadelaida "Jesse" Lopez was arrested on six counts of unlicensed practice of health care. Lopez worked at a weight loss clinic in Winter Haven called “Dr. Drop It Like It’s Hot” on Cypress Gardens Boulevard.
Detectives say she worked with a licensed medical doctor, Kamal Ashraf. He was also arrested Tuesday on a felony charge for knowingly employing an unlicensed person in the practice of nursing.
So how do you know if the medical professional you’re going to is legitimate?
Most people trust providers listed in their insurance network, hospital group or even the state licensing agencies, but there is a lot of oversight and experts say the best way to vet a medical provider is to do your own digging.
There are a lot of options.
First check with the state’s medical board. You can find it by going to the Florida Department of Health’s website.
We spoke with Tampa plastic surgeon Joseph J. Castellano. While he’s given plenty of advice on how to choose the right cosmetic surgeon for your needs,
He says once you figure out whether your provider is licensed, it doesn’t mean they do these procedures every day.
“I’m board certified in general surgery. Despite that certification, you wouldn’t want me operating on your pancreas? Why? Because my area of expertise is cosmetic surgery,” he said.
Castellano says it’s best to ask questions before you book your appointment.
“Ask your physician’s office, who is my appointment with? How many times have they done this procedure? How long have they been working,” he said, “If you get any pushback, you may want to look somewhere else.”
Another piece of advice is to look at patient reviews. You can go to websites like:
Be cautious of places listed as clinics or day spas offering medical services.
For extra peace of mind, you can always look up your doctor’s criminal background by going to the county jail website or even the state department of corrections.
Medicare also has a website -- Physician Compare -- that compares physician’s performance scores.
To learn more about Castellano, go to his website.
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10 News app now.
Have a news tip? Email tips@wtsp.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.
