A Brazilian woman posing as a doctor treated nearly 30 patients at a hospital before revealing she bought a degree online for $8.
Mirian Santana, 27, was arrested on Monday on her first day at the facility in Corodos, São Paulo state.
By the time she was handcuffed, she had already treated 30 adults and children. According to G1.
Other medical professionals became suspicious and looked up her registration number, which belonged to an actual doctor.
Santana’s diploma (which she purchased online for $8) said she completed the course in 2022, but her degree program did not begin until that year, G1 reported.
According to local media, Santana admitted to purchasing the documents online when questioned at the hospital.
She later told police she earned about $802 a month as a speech therapist. According to G1, police have not confirmed her occupation.
She won the clinic job through an outsourcing company that was involved in a bidding process with City Hall.
Santana was arrested on charges of professional misconduct, ideological forgery, use of false documents, endangering life and attempted embezzlement.
G1 said the alleged perpetrator was taken to Tupi Paulista and will be held there while civilian police investigate.
