Joint Investigation Leads To Arrest in Surfside
Tallahassee, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health's Unlicensed Activity (ULA) Unit announced that their joint investigation with the Surfside Police Department and Miami Dade Police Department Medical Crimes Unit has led to the arrest of Alicia Norma Giser for the alleged unlicensed practice of medicine, which is a third degree felony and punishable by up to one year in jail.
The joint operation was conducted at Giser's place of business, Lemel Medical Spa, located at 9471 Harding Avenue in Surfside, Florida, where undercover police officers from the Surfside Police Department and the Miami Dade Police Department Medical Crimes Unit conducted an undercover operation.
During the undercover operation Giser medically diagnosed and offered to treat one of the undercover police officer's lip area with Juvederm injections for the negotiated price of $750.00 and Botox injections for the facial area for $525.00. Giser was found to be in possession of three prescription drugs: one pre-filled syringe of Juvederm, one bottle of Botox, and one ampule of Lidocaine.
On Nov. 15, the Surfside Police Department arrested Giser for practicing medicine without a license and for the possession of prescription drugs with the intent to dispense. The Florida Department of Health issued Giser a Notice to Cease and Desist for practicing medicine without being duly licensed.
The department has several resources to combat unlicensed activity:
Consumers are encouraged to use the department's website www.flhealthsource.gov/ula 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 (MQA) 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.
For more information about MQA visit https://flhealthsource.gov.