Disgraced cosmetic surgeon fined $60,000 for lying to patients
A controversial cosmetic surgeon has been ordered to pay $60,000 after pleading guilty to pretending to be a doctor.
Cynthia Weinstein admitted she had misled patients by keeping certificates and diplomas hanging on the walls of her business, despite giving up her medical registration.
Ms Weinstein was once a cosmetic surgeon at the head of her field but over the years, the 61-year-old began to slip and claims of misconduct and dodgy surgery started to emerge from unhappy patients.
It led to her surrendering her registration to the medical board in 2010.
But its seems Ms Weinstein couldn't let go of the title 'doctor'.
On Monday she faced the Melbourne Magistrate's Court charged with falsely displaying medical certificates and diplomas in the foyer of her cosmetic surgery business, CDC, in Armadale.
Between November 2014 and October 2015, Australia's Health Regulation Agency received two complaints from patients who had visited CDC and saw the certificates on the wall.
They also claimed to have heard Weinstein referring to herself as 'doctor',
She pleaded guilty to pretending to be a medical practitioner and was ordered to pay $60,000 in fines and court costs.
But it seems Ms Weinstein has finally realised it is time to completely cut ties with cosmetic surgery. The court heard she is now studying to become a lawyer.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Jelena Popovic didn't record a conviction, instead handing Weinstein a two-and-a-half year undertaking not to commit further offences.
