Authorities from Mossos d’Esquadra have detained a person posing as both a nurse and a physician who operated without a valid medical degree in several health facilities around Vic in Catalonia, including Berga Hospital. The arrest involved a 30-year-old woman who appeared in court after being taken into custody on a recent Monday night. The case centers on alleged professional interference, with the suspect reportedly presenting a forged medical degree receipt to multiple centers. Investigators indicate the individual was connected to the University of Girona as part of the alleged academic credential scheme.
Evidence gathered by Mossos shows that the individual, lacking medical training, assumed the roles of both nurse and physician at at least three health sites, namely Berga Hospital, a facility connected with Dexeus University in Barcelona, and a clinic located in Girona. On top of that, she is linked to a health care prevention company that operated within the broader network. This pattern points to a broader scheme that extended across several organizations rather than a single isolated incident.
As the investigation progresses, the suspect faces several charges, including four counts of professional trespassing, falsification of an official document, and misrepresentation in professional status. A hospital administrator in Berga reported that between December of the previous year and mid-July of the current year an unqualified medical worker was effectively operating in the emergency department. The hospital was placed on alert after a preventive health care firm seeking staff flagged possible irregularities, prompting a review of credentials and employment procedures. It was also confirmed that the detainee appeared in the Barcelona College of Physicians database under a different doctor’s registration number.
Further inquiries revealed that the Ministry of Universities had verified the absence of any Spanish university degree or any state-recognized foreign diploma on the suspect’s record. In Berga Hospital, staff noted that the individual provided only a screenshot showing a university registration number along with two photographs in doctor’s attire. The hospital subsequently allowed the person to work in the emergency department on a trial basis in December 2022, while requesting the documentary proof to be submitted when possible.
In mid-July, after the hospital discovered the suspect was not listed in the official Medical College registry, it filed a disciplinary case charging a very serious offense and suspended the individual pending the outcome of the investigation. Berga Hospital also acknowledged significant irregularities in the patient care contract process tied to the fraudulent doctor and subsequently dismissed the head of the center’s Human Resources department. The Mossos continue to supervise the inquiry and remain in contact with other health centers and ambulance services where the person may have operated, with the focus on uncovering the full scope of the alleged deception.
According to Mossos, the woman used the fake university number to prepare and sign medical reports and prescriptions, sometimes employing the digital signature of another physician. Investigators stress that patient records and data gathering were part of the broader pattern, with steps taken to ensure patient safety as the matter unfolds. Berga Hospital has stated that the newcomer often worked under the supervision of a senior physician and engaged in lower-complexity procedures, asserting that there were no reported incidents or patient complaints attributed to mistreatment during her time in the facility. The ongoing investigation continues to assess the extent of any potential damage and to determine whether other locations may have been affected by similar impersonations.