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Joint Investigation Leads To Conviction In Sarasota

By Florida Department of Health, Office of Communications

November 03, 2015

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Nov. 3, 2015

JOINT INVESTIGATION LEADS TO CONVICTION IN SARASOTA

 

Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
(850) 245-4111

Tallahassee, Fla.—The Florida Department of Health Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) Unlicensed Activity Unit participated in a joint investigation with law enforcement in the Dec. 9, 2013 arrest of Leonard Rubinstein for practicing medicine with a revoked license. Last week, Rubinstein’s case went to trial where he was found guilty on four counts of practicing medicine without a license and could face up to seven years in prison.

“The unlicensed activity program protects Florida residents from the potentially serious consequences of receiving health care services from an unlicensed person,” said Deputy Secretary for Administration Marty Stubblefield. “It is through successful collaboration with law enforcement and the state attorney’s office that we are able to not only stop these people from practicing, but also bring them to justice.”

The Florida Department of Health worked closely with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, City of Sarasota Police Department and the Sarasota County State Attorney’s Office on this case.

The department has several resources to combat unlicensed activity:

  • Consumers are encouraged to use the department’s website www.flhealthsource.gov 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 Florida Department of Health’s Web site, calling 1-877-HALT-ULA, or emailing HALTULA@flhealth.gov.

The department’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance investigates and refers for prosecution all unlicensed health care activity complaints and allegations. The ULA 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.      

Working in conjunction with 22 boards and six councils, MQA regulates seven types of facilities and 200-plus license types in 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.flhealthsource.gov for additional information about MQA.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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

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