The Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) South Florida Unlicensed Activity (ULA) Unit announced today that their joint investigation with the Miami Dade Police Department’s Medical Crimes Unit (MDPD-MCU) has led to the June 24, 2010 arrest of Larry De Jesus in connection with the unlicensed practice of a health care profession (Electrology) resulting in a serious bodily injury. This charge is a second degree felony, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison.
On August 5, 2009, De Jesus allegedly performed an underarm laser hair removal procedure on a patient/victim in a med-spa located at 3621 SW 107th Avenue in Miami, Florida. The patient/victim sustained multiple first, second, and third degree burns under both arms.
On February 16, 2010, while responding to another matter, De Jesus admitted to performing the August 5, 2009 underarm laser hair removal procedure on the patient/victim in written correspondence to the Florida Department of Health. De Jesus is not licensed as a physician nor as an electrologist in Florida.
DOH has several resources to combat unlicensed activity:
Consumers are encouraged to use DOH’s Web site www.flhealthsource.com where they can conveniently view the license information of their health care practitioner.
Complaints may be filed anonymously by completing and mailing the complaint form on the DOH Web site or calling 1-877-HALT-ULA or 1-877-425-8852 to have a form mailed to you.
The Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) unlicensed activity program protects Florida residents and visitors from the potentially serious and dangerous consequences of receiving medical and health care services from an unlicensed person. DOH’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) investigates and refers for prosecution all unlicensed health care activity complaints and allegations. The unlicensed activity unit works in conjunction with law enforcement and the state attorney’s offices to prosecute individuals practicing without a license. In many instances, unlicensed activity is a felony level criminal offense. More importantly, receiving health care from unlicensed people is dangerous and could result in further injury, disease, or even death.
The mission of the Department of Health and MQA is to promote, protect and improve the health of all people in Florida. Working in conjunction with 22 boards and six councils, MQA regulates six types of facilities and more than 40 health care professions. MQA evaluates the credentials of all applicants for licensure, issues licenses, analyzes and investigates complaints, inspects facilities, assists in prosecuting practice act violations, combats unlicensed activity and provides credential and discipline history about licensees to the public. Visit http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/ for additional information about MQA.
