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Thursday, July 10, 2003
Fake dermatologists practice in Cebu: doc
By Arvy E. Lopez
PEOPLE are urged to be aware of the presence of fake dermatologists practicing in Cebu as legal dermatology practitioners.
Dermatologist Dr. Marilou Ong, in an interview with Sun.Star, said there are quite a number of pseudo dermatologists, or those doctors who are not recognized as legal dermatologists, practicing their craft in Cebu.
These pseudo dermatologists are also medical doctors, but they did not undergo the three years of residency training required for them to become legitimate dermatology practitioners, she said.
“A genuine dermatologist is a medical doctor who has finished three years of dermatology residency training in an approved training institution by the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS), an affiliate society of the Philippine Medical Association,” Ong said.
The six dermatology residency-training institutions approved by the PDS are Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Makati Medical Center, Skin and Cancer Foundation Inc., University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital and the University of Santo Tomas.
At the end of the three years residency training, Ong said, a Diplomate Board examination is given by the Philippine Board of Dermatology composed of written, practical and oral examinations.
Those who pass the exam are given the title Diplomate by the PDS. And after two years of clinical practice, the Diplomate may apply to become a Fellow of the PDS.
“Only diplomates and fellows are considered true dermatologists. And here in Cebu, there are only a maximum of 15 legal dermatologists,” Ong said.
Ong, who is a diplomate of the Philippine Board of Dermatology and a fellow of the PDS, said that for people to avoid these fake dermatologists, they should ask the hospitals and verify the legitimacy of these dermatologists.
The patients are always the victims because of the severe effects of these malpractices, she added.
Some of these malpractices lead to disfigurement, injury and even death, she said.
Ong added that aside from the possible and serious complications patients get by consulting fake dermatologists, these doctors also charge more than the legal dermatologists.
(July 10, 2003 issue)
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