A disgraced doctor who was convicted of practicing dermatology using forged qualifications has lost an appeal against her jail term.
The Canadian, 38, submitted faked degree and medical certificates to Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in order to secure a lucrative job with a private clinic.
Her prospective employer, a 42-year-old Emirati, found a profile for her online, in which she said she had carried out treatments for celebrities and was 'famous' in India, and offered her a role and half the profits of the business.
“I searched online and found her profile and information which said that she provided treatment to movie stars and that she was a famous dermatologist in India, so I contacted her and told her that I opened a clinic and that I wanted her to run it,” said the clinic boss.
The man testified that he signed a contract with her in May 2016, following which she provided her documents and certificates and applied for a permit.
She uploaded the doctored documents through her online profile with DHA to apply for a permit to practice dermatology in Dubai.
Records said that the uploaded medical degree stated that she graduated from an American college in Chicago. She also uploaded a permit that she had practiced medicine in India.
After contacting the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and discovering that the doctor was unlisted with them, DHA rejected her application.
The accused then applied again and provided DHA with a new ABMS certificate claiming that it was being renewed when they double checked.
Meanwhile, the Emirati owner of the clinic suspended her from work.
In November 2016, the DHA referred her case to police.
She was arrested and during questioning she denied charges of using forged documents and providing false information to health authorities.
Prosecutors said she sent an email to DHA employees threatening them and claiming to have contacts with royal members and asked them to process her application.
At Dubai Criminal Court last February, she denied all charges but was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison to be followed by deportation and fined Dh200,000.
She challenged the sentence with the Appeal court, which upheld the sentence against her.
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