Famous Dermatologist Accused Of Forging Medical Papers

Dubai: A famous doctor has been accused of practising dermatology after she provided a forged medical degree and American Board of Medical Specialities certification to Dubai’s health authorities.

The Canadian doctor, who is famous for having provided cosmetic treatments to celebrities and megastars of movies, arts and media industries in India, was said to have created a profile online with Dubai Health Authority [DHA] to apply for a permit to practise dermatology in May 2016.

The DHA received the electronic application of the Canadian doctor who, according to records, uploaded all her documents and papers as per the required procedures.

The Canadian was said to have uploaded her personal identification papers and a medical college degree certificate from an American college, a certification from the American Board of Medical Specialities [ABMS], a permit that she had practised medicine in India, a medical experience letter and a certificate of good professional conduct.

Records said once DHA authorities discovered that the woman was unlisted with ABMS, her application was rejected before she applied again and provided a new ABMS certification that, she claimed, had been renewed.

In April 2016, the Canadian doctor was granted a permit to practise dermatology in a Dubai-based private clinic pending further verifications that, according to records, had to be done by a government-approved body.

In November 2016, the body reported to DHA that the doctor’s medical degree and ABMS certification were forged before the permit was revoked.

Thereafter, the DHA referred the case to the legal bodies concerned for further investigation.

Police apprehended the Canadian dermatologist and referred her to the Public Prosecution.

Prosecutors accused the suspect of obtaining a permit to practise medicine using forged electronic documents and certifications, providing the health authorities with false information and threatening a government-approved body [that verified her medical papers].

According to the accusation sheet, prosecutors said the suspect sent the government-approved body an email, in which she threatened them to face negative consequences if they [the body] did not provide DHA with a positive feedback about her medical expertise.

The suspect pleaded not guilty and strongly refuted all allegations when she appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Sunday.

“I am not guilty … that did not happen. No!” the Canadian suspect told presiding judge Mohammad Jamal in courtroom 3.

A DHA official testified to prosecutors that the woman was reported to the authorities once the government-approved body discovered that her papers were forged.

“According to the body’s verification, the suspect was not listed with the ABMS and then her permit was revoked. When she visited DHA, she was advised to reapply and follow up with the government-approved body. The body sent her papers for a second verification and the result was the same … the higher authorities were notified and DHA initiated legal action against the suspect,” the official told prosecutors.

The Emirati man, who owns the clinic that hired the suspect, testified to prosecutors: “We searched over the internet and discovered that the suspect was very famous in dermatology and cosmetology in India … Many websites reported that she had provided cosmetic treatments to famous movie stars and celebrities. She worked in the clinic for sometime but later her permit was revoked because her papers were forged.”

The trial continues.