A Torrevieja-based Criminal Court No. 2 in Orihuela issued a penalty against a person who presented themselves as a podiatrist without the required university degree. The individual advertised services on social networks as a diabetic foot and plantar wart specialist. This person, registered in Torrevieja, did not hold the medical clearance or pediatrics qualification required for this type of practice. The final penalty was a fine of 1,095 euros.
The Official College of Podiatrists of the Community of Valencia (ICOPCV) initiated legal action against the offender for promoting themselves as a diabetic foot specialist and plantar wart expert without the necessary university credentials in podiatry. This marks the second conviction for professional trespass in the Valencian Community in 2022.
ICOPCV reported that the simplest way for the public to verify professional qualification is to check for a university registration number. When the College saw the advertisement, it alerted the individual that without pediatrics credentials the practice could lead to professional intervention. The person claimed not to practice pediatrics and removed the advertisement. Unfortunately, this type of deception is common among some beauticians who overstep their professional boundaries. The College noted that misleading practices occur both within the beauty sector and among foreigners unfamiliar with the qualifications required in the country, according to Maite Garcia, Vice-President of the Valencia Community Official College of Podiatrists.
Another statement from the Professional Association emphasized that deceptive practices are widespread, affecting both nonmedical workers who overstate duties and individuals unaware of local qualification standards.
The complaint was filed by ICOPCV, an organization that has pressed for years to curb this issue because it threatens professional integrity and public health. This case represents the second pediatrics-related intervention conviction in the Valencian Community in 2022. The first involved a person who informed a shoe repair shop owner in Valencia that feet conditions and personal insoles fell under podiatry without proper university qualifications. The College has urged Health Department cooperation and ongoing monitoring of fraudulent practices to safeguard patient safety and ensure that care is delivered by qualified professionals. It stressed that patients seeking podiatry services should verify professional registration numbers to confirm legitimate credentials. [ICOPCV]