Health Department closes clinic where dentist practiced psychology

The Health Regulatory Authority (ERS) ordered the closure of a clinic in Amaranta, where a dentist practiced medicine and psychology, and suspended the medical activities carried out in Cascais and Lisbon by two unqualified specialists.

According to information published this Thursday by ERS regarding the precautionary measures applied in the first quarter of the year, at the clinic in Amarante, the regulator concluded that there was a “serious non-compliance with the minimum operational requirements”, as well as the absence of “a health worker qualified for the activity being developed “

According to ERS, at the medical facility in question, which operated in the Navarras building, “the dentist practiced medical and psychological activities.”

At the time of the inspection, “compliance with drug, life support and emergency treatment requirements” was not ensured, and the facility “failed to maintain an internal sterilization service and disinfection room for clinical use materials.”

In addition, the facility also failed to ensure “disposal of hazardous hospital waste” in accordance with the law and failed to comply with hygiene and environmental controls, ERS reported.

Because it did not meet ERS requirements, the health facility was closed by the regulator.

In Vila Nova de Gaia, ERS immediately suspended the activities of the Functional and Integrative Medicine clinic due to a lack of qualified health workers.

According to ERS, the clinic carried out procedures related to the use/administration of drugs on a doctor’s prescription, without confirming the necessary prescription for this purpose and without prior assessment of users.

They also performed “invasive insertion procedures/insertion of products into the skin, namely the administration of pain medications,” as well as “joint puncture to remove synovial fluid.”

Since the person responsible for these procedures was not qualified to do so, his activities were suspended.

In this case, the clinic has “moved to permanently cease” a health care activity for which the professional was not qualified, so it can continue to operate but without that professional maintaining that activity.

ERS also suspended medical activities at the Cascais facility, which was also operating without a qualified specialist.

In this case, the regulator found that the specialist in question performed procedures such as the application of botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid, biostimulants and products used in chemical peeling, which require the use of drugs and/or medical devices whose packaging states that They should only be used by a doctor.

Focused ultrasound equipment intended exclusively for physicians was also used.

“This fact is likely to cause serious and irreparable harm to users, justifying the need for preventive and immediate measures,” the regulator says.

In this case, the institution took measures to eliminate the “inconsistencies” that served as the basis for the regulator’s decision and demonstrated that it had registered and received a license with the ERS for the type of activity “dental clinics and practices” in which the woman works. the dentist assumed technical responsibility for the institution.”

In Lisbon, ERS suspended activities carried out at a premises in the Campo Pequeno area that functioned as a health care provider but did not have a qualified medical professional. In this case, the organization ceased the activities of this specialist.

In Porto, ERS suspended dental activities carried out in an establishment that did not meet the minimum legal and regulatory requirements for clinics or medical offices, dental clinics or outpatient surgery offices and departments.

At the same time, the clinic subsequently demonstrated the cancellation of medical care with the subsequent closure of this institution.