A 23-year-old man is accused of impersonating a physician at California hospitals, according to SFGate.
Arya Ouskouian is charged with one felony count of providing a medical diagnosis while impersonating a physician. He is also charged with eight misdemeanors for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a licensed medical practitioner, according to The Orange County Register.
Authorities allege Mr. Ouskouian posed as a physician at least seven times at Children's Hospital of Orange County in Orange, Calif., between April 23 and June 4. He is also accused of diagnosing a man about a growth on his neck on May 3 while pretending to be a physician at UC Irvine.
Mr. Ouskouian allegedly cleared security at CHOC by claiming to have lost his hospital badge and requesting a temporary one. Authorities claim Mr. Ouskouian accessed restricted floors of the hospital using the temporary badge, according to ABC News.
After learning Mr. Ouskouian was trying to pose as a resident physician, CHOC notified the California Department of Public Health, other area hospitals and law enforcement agencies.
"During limited time on our campus, we believe this individual did not interact with any of our patients," the hospital told ABC News. "The individual did not have any access to patient health information. Out of deference to the prosecution and defense of this matter, we will not provide any additional details."
The University of California Irvine Medical Center also cooperated with the investigation, according to ABC News.
"There is no indication the person impersonating a physician compromised UCI Health patient records or saw patients at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange or at UCI Health outpatient physician offices," the medical center said in a statement to ABC station KABC-TV. "This person was not affiliated in any way with UCI's school of medicine or residency program."
Mr. Ouskouian was arrested Sept. 3 and released Sept. 4 after posting bond. He will appear in court Sept. 25.
More articles on legal and regulatory issues:
Medical center owners allegedly double billed insurers, altered patient records as part of $80M scheme
9 latest healthcare industry lawsuits
Fake nurse in Maryland submitted thousands of false Medicaid claims, authorities say