Cosmetic surgeon Cynthia Weinstein avoids conviction for practicing while unregistered
AN unregistered cosmetic surgeon who masqueraded as a qualified doctor has avoided a conviction before the same magistrate for the second time.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
AN unregistered cosmetic surgeon who masqueraded as a qualified doctor has avoided a conviction before the same magistrate for the second time.
Cynthia Weinstein, also known as ‘Dr Skin’, this morning pleaded guilty to holding herself out to be a medical professional despite voluntarily deregistering herself in 2010.
Ms Weinstein, 61, was today ordered to pay $35,000 in legal costs after displaying qualifications and signage at her Armadale practice that duped customers into believing she was registered.
Barrister Russell Hammil, acting for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, said Ms Weinstein saw multiple patients between November 8, 2014, and October 22, 2015.
“She conducted assessments, made recommendations regarding treatment and, in some cases, gave treatments,” Mr Hammil said.
But Ms Weinstein will be able to pursue her new career ambition as a barrister after Deputy Chief Magistrate Jelena Popovic didn’t record a conviction, instead handing her a two-and-a-half year adjourned undertaking not to commit further offences.
Her company, CDC Clinics, was also ordered to pay $15,000 costs, making the $50,000 total “an extremely significant impost,” according to Ms Popovic.
Ms Weinstein’s barrister, David Galbally, QC, said his client had completed a Master’s degree in Law and hoped to be admitted as a practising barrister.
It comes after Ms Popovic fined Ms Weinstein $2000 and placed her on a good behaviour bond without conviction for defrauding a Commonwealth authority in 2003.
The decision was appealed to the County Court, where she was convicted and fined $1000 in 2004.
Mr Galbally told Ms Popovic that conviction had been expunged.
He said his client conceded she had “crossed the line in creating the impression she was registered” despite a previously accomplished career as a medical practitioner.