The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Florida man with a unique method of treating medical ailments is facing charges after the authorities learned that he was allegedly just playing doctor and he was not actually licensed to practice medicine.
73-year-old Onelio Hipolit-Gonzalez placed an advertisement in a Hispanic-based online community promoting his medical services for those seeking a doctor in the Tampa Bay area. He reportedly publicized that he specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, cancer, diabetes, and a host of other illnesses.
According to the Florida Department of Health, they stumbled upon the ad of a “Dr. Hipolit-Gonzalez,” which reportedly displayed a picture of the man in what appeared to be a white physician’s lab coat. After looking into his credentials they reported that they did not have anything on file showing that Hipolit-Gonzalez was licensed to practice any kind of medicine in the state of Florida.
When the authorities were made aware of the situation, a deputy acting as a new patient called and set up an appointment on February 7 with Hipolit-Gonzalez, and was told to go to a residential address that is also used as the doctor’s office.
When he arrived, the deputy was allegedly asked to fill out intake forms and submit $160 before his vital signs were taken and recorded. When he was given his examination by Hipolit-Gonzalez the deputy reported that he was told to hold a metal rod in his hand and it was attached to an electronic machine that emitted beeping sounds.
Hipolit-Gonzalez allegedly explained that the device, which he allegedly purchased on the internet, would do a comprehensive internal check and scan and produce a report of any detected illnesses.
After the undercover agent finished the testing procedure, Hipolit-Gonzalez allegedly gave him a diagnosis detailing several health problems such as gall bladder issues and diabetes.
When presenting the treatment plan, which allegedly consisted of drawing the patient’s blood and then re-introducing it to their body using an injection, Hipolit-Gonzalez allegedly said that the owner of the house that they were in was a friend of his and also one of the patients he treated for diabetes that had been successfully cured. He then reportedly called the reformed diabetic and had him discuss his positive experience with Hipolit-Gonzalez’s cure for his illness.
The deputy was allegedly told by Hipolit-Gonzalez that he would have the same results if he paid $2,000 for the removal and replacement of his own blood, purporting that the healing benefits derive from the blood becoming combative and strengthening the immune system when it re-enters the body.
Before the appointment concluded, Hipolit-Gonzalez was taken into custody by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect reportedly spoke to the authorities regarding the allegations and explained that he did not believe he had done anything illegal because he didn’t think he needed to have a medical license to administer the type of treatment that he offers. Hipolit-Gonzalez also allegedly stated that he worked as a technician in a laboratory in Cuba, and then attended school in Florida for certifications in nutrition and alternative medicine techniques.
Hipolitz-Gonzalez was booked on suspicion of unlicensed practice of a health care profession, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device and he was jailed in lieu of $10,000 bond.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a crime, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.