WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Police say a teenager in Florida was “playing doctor” inside a real medical facility.
The teen, who posed as a doctor, was able to walk the halls of St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach.
Police say he wore a white coat with the St. Mary’s logo.
“I think it’s just crazy. I can’t believe he got away with it for a month,” Stacy Morales said.
The impostor was busted while wearing a stethoscope around his neck and a mask on his face.
At the time, he was in an examination room with a patient.
“He presented himself with a patient of our practice and introduced himself as Dr. Robinson,” Dr. Sebastian Kent said, an OB/GYN with St. Mary’s Medical Center.
According to the police report, the teen was inside the examination room with a patient when Dr. Kent conducted an exam.
“The first thing I thought was, ‘I am getting, I am really getting old because these young doctors look younger every year,” Dr. Kent said.
The real doctor called security, who then called police.
Even security guards around the hospital had seen him for weeks and believed he was someone who belonged there.
“I saw him outside our office building with policemen surrounding him. I believe they had him in handcuffs. There was quite a commotion,” Dr. Kent said.
The hospital said in a statement:
“The individual never had contact with any hospital patients and did not gain access to any patient care areas of the hospital at any time. The hospital immediately notified local authorities, who took the individual into custody, and we are cooperating with their ongoing investigation.”
The teen’s mother rushed to the scene, saying her son has an illness.
She said he had not been taking his medication.
Police and the hospital have decided not to charge the teen.
