The legal counsel of an alleged fake doctor entrapped in an aesthetic clinic in Iloilo City confirmed that alias “Doc Jess” is a graduate of Medicine, but has no license yet.

Atty. Joebert Pahilga said that despite being unlicensed, his client has not violated the law.

Pahilga said that “Doc Jess” has worked for quite a time out of the country and received training on “gluta drip session” (medical term: glutathione intravenous infusion).

He said that according to their research, license is not required in administering gluta IV infusion.

Alias “Doc Jess” was arrested in an entrapment operation of the National Bureau of Investigation 6 for performing gluta drip session without a license to practice Medicine.

The suspect posted bail immediately. 

As to why the suspect used “Doc” before her name (short form to mean “doctor”), Pahilga pointed out that patrons of the aesthetic clinic have come to call his client that way, but his client did not claim the title.

However, the incident worries the Philippine Dermatological Society.

According to Dr. Dina Belicena, a member of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Dermatological Society Southern Philippines Chapter, gluta drip is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Dr. Belicena said that while glutathione is used as a treatment for cancer, it has not been recommended for skin whitening. Only licensed doctors, or nurses with permission from legitimate doctors, are allowed to administer IV or injectable drugs.

Belicena enumerated cases where patients complained of complications in the use of IV glutathione. Among these are dizziness, rise in blood sugar level, contusions, shortness of breath, gastritis, among others.

Worse-case scenario in the use of IV glutathione would be anaphylaxis or life-threatening allergic reaction, Belicena added.