Puerto Rico Woman Arrested for Posing as Nurse, Injecting Clients with Industrial Grade Silicone
Authorities in San Juan are making a public appeal to find more victims of “Rosa from Venezuela.”
A federal court in San Juan, Puerto Rico has brought charges of injecting adulterated products into at least 2 different women against Rosa Betancourt-Farfán, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports. Betancourt-Farfán is alleged to have posed as a nurse and offered her body augmentation services for $1,200.
According to the FDA “On or about May 23, 2016, Puerto Rico Board of Health, Legal Division, contacted the FDA, San Juan Resident Office, to advise of a complainant who received medical procedures from a female individual who claimed to be a nurse. It was further indicated that the complainant received treatment to enlarge his/her buttocks and that the female individual was identified as “Rosa from Venezuela” (later identified as Rosa Betancourt-Farfán).”
The woman cited above by the FDA was later forced to seek treatment for back pain and trouble breathing, and had to be hospitalized in 2015.
FDA identified a second victim of Betancourt-Farfán who allegedly received injections of stem cells. The second victim experienced serious health issues and is currently under medical treatment.
A statement from Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, US Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, emphasized the seriousness of the allegations against Betancourt-Farfán: “If you or a person you know have been treated by the defendant, please call the Junta de Licenciamiento y Disciplina Médica y Oficina de Reglamentación y Certificación de los Profesionales de la Salud al 787-765-2929, ext. 6589. Your life is in danger if you have received any of these adulterated treatments.”
This case was investigated by the FDA, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Myriam Fernández.