A woman charged with pretending to be a doctor and issuing 600 fake "medical exemption" certificates for COVID-19 "doesn't believe she's done anything wrong" and is "entitled" to issue the certificates, Queensland police say.
Key points: Police said the woman does not hold a medical doctorate and is not registered as a health practitioner within Australia
Police said the woman does not hold a medical doctorate and is not registered as a health practitioner within Australia She was charging up to $150 for fake "medical exemption" certificates
She was charging up to $150 for fake "medical exemption" certificates She faces fines up to $10,000 and potential jail time
The 45-year-old from Darling Heights in the Toowoomba region was arrested on Wednesday following a police raid at a Labrador home on the Gold Coast.
She was charged under Health Practitioner National Law with five counts of taking a title indicating a person is a health practitioner.
Detective Acting Inspector Damien Powell said the woman does not hold a medical doctorate and is not registered as a health practitioner within Australia.
"She is of the belief she is entitled to issue those certificates," he said.
"She is basically anti-COVID and does not believe people should be forced into vaccinations."
The woman was charging up to $150 per certificate.
Acting Inspector Powell said police are working to track down people who bought a certificate.
"What we have been able to establish so far is they are from across Australia, or mainland states.
"We'll be working with our sister agencies across Australia to identify those people and ensure that they're aware their certificates are not valid."
Police said the situation is very concerning.
"This is not a matter to be treated lightly and we're taking it extremely seriously," Acting Inspector Powell said.
"If those documents are being presented to employers as being exemptions from vaccination, then that exposes that person to risk of catching COVID because they're not properly vaccinated, or suffering ill-effects of COVID, it also places colleagues and workmates at risk.
"There's a lot of talk that COVID is a hoax. It's not. One look at the world media and deaths or speak to a person who's had family die from it, it is not a hoax.
"False certificates are false. They're not going to protect you from anything, whereas a vaccine will.
The woman is due to appear at the Southport Magistrates Court on October 28.
She faces fines up to $10,000 and possible jail time.
"She's indicating from what I've read that her qualifications and her interpretation of the legislation allows her to [issue certificates]; however, that's contrary to the view of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), who are the registering body," Acting Inspector Powell said.
Police said the woman had a “research doctorate” but that it was not medical.
Investigations are continuing and anyone with information is urged to contact police.
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bob4apples on October 14th, 2021 at 16:39 UTC »
She's going to have so many things to not believe when this is done. She can not believe that she's been fined up to AUD50,000. She may even get a chance to not believe that she's in jail.
If the Canadian experience is any indication, the medical profession will (fairly literally) spare no expense to defend their turf and their image. If so, she's in for a world of hurt.
BluehibiscusEmpire on October 14th, 2021 at 14:12 UTC »
Of course. Megalomaniacs tend to not think ill of themselves
n1njabot on October 14th, 2021 at 14:00 UTC »
Ha, charging up to $150 for the things x 600 nice profit Ms. I didn't do anything wrong.