Attack and battery charges have been brought against a guy who reportedly pretended to be a doctor and operated on a lady in Los Angeles without a license.
Cristian Perez Latorre’s charges were made public by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Friday. The 53-year-old is accused of six counts of practicing medicine without a license, assault with a deadly weapon, and battery resulting in serious harm.
Furthermore, Latorre is accused of causing “great bodily injury” when he operated on a lady in July 2021. The unlicensed procedure resulted in problems, including infections, that required follow-up care.
After the California Department of Consumer Affairs conducted an investigation, Latorre was taken into custody by the District Attorney’s Office’s Bureau of Investigation on Thursday.
Latorre’s actions, according to District Attorney George Gascón, misled the public and called into question the reliability of the medical community and its professionals.
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“When an individual masquerades as a doctor and performs medical procedures without a license, it not only endangers lives but also erodes the essential trust between patients and legitimate healthcare providers,” Gascón stated. “We are committed to seeking justice for the victim, holding Mr. Latorre accountable and restoring the trust that has been so grievously violated.”
“There is no excuse for the unlicensed practice of medicine,” stated Kathleen Nicholls, chief of the Department of Consumer Affairs Division of Investigation, adding that crimes like this “will not be tolerated.”
A potential penalty of ten years in state prison awaits Latorre if found guilty as charged.
Please call the DA’s Office Consumer Protection Division at 213-257-3010 if you have any other information about the case or the suspect.
