FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2014

Contact: Communications Office
(850) 245-4111

TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Department of Health’s Orlando Unlicensed Activity (ULA) Unit announced today that a joint investigation with the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigations (MBI) has led to the arrest of Ismael Ernesto Romero Perez for the alleged unlicensed practice of medicine. This offense is a 3rd degree felony, punishable by up to one year in jail.

This joint operation was conducted based on information and evidence received indicating that on May 26th, 2012, and July 27th, 2012, Ismael Ernesto Romero Perez performed surgical procedures on a victim at Dermoescultura Face and Body, located at 7550 Futures Drive, Suite 208, in Orlando. According to department records, Ismael Ernesto Romero Perez is not a licensed medical doctor in the state of Florida.

On July 11, 2014, Ismael Ernesto Romero Perez was arrested at his residence, located at 9670 Silver Buttonwood Street in Orlando. He is charged with two counts of practicing medicine without a license. On July 15, 2014, the Orlando ULA office served Mr. Perez with a notice to cease and desist and an unlicensed activity citation.

The Department has several resources to combat unlicensed activity:

• Consumers are encouraged to visit the Department’s website, www.flhealthsource.com, where they can conveniently view the license information of any health care practitioner.
• Complaints may be filed anonymously by completing and mailing the complaint form found on the Florida Department of Health’s web site, or calling 1-877-HALT-ULA.

The Department of Health’s Unlicensed Activity program protects Florida residents and visitors from the potentially serious consequences of receiving health care services from an unlicensed person. The 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 state attorney 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 an unlicensed person is dangerous, and could result in further injury, disease, or even death.

The mission of the Florida Department of Health and MQA is to protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. Working in conjunction with 22 boards and six councils, MQA regulates seven types of facilities and over 200 license types in more than 40 healthcare 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. For information about MQA, please visit www.flhealthsource.com.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.floridahealth.gov.