FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH INVESTIGATION LEADS TO ARREST IN MIAMI
TALLAHASSEE— The Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) South Florida Unlicensed Activity (ULA) Unit announced that their joint investigation with the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Medical Crimes Unit (MDPD-MCU) has led to the arrest of Elizabeth Nunez in connection with the unlicensed practice of massage therapy, a first degree misdemeanor and punishable by up to one year in jail.
Earlier this year, the Miami-Dade Police Department received an anonymous complaint alleging that massage services were being provided by unlicensed individuals at M.E.R.R. LLC located at 3750 West 16th Avenue in Miami. A ULA investigation revealed that the business is also an unlicensed massage establishment. On Tuesday, January 29, 2008 detectives from the MDPD-MCU, along with DOH ULA investigators conducted a joint undercover operation at the business. Ms. Nunez was arrested after she provided a massage to an undercover detective. Ms. Nunez was given a Promise to Appear (PTA) notice, in lieu of a physical arrest. While she has never held a massage therapist’s license, Nunez was formally a Registered Chiropractic Assistant. Nunez’ DOH issued license expired in March of 2006 and is currently null and void.
DOH has several resources to combat unlicensed activity:
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 seven 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.
