The headline reads Phillip Winikoff, 81, Allegedly Impersonated Doctor, Performed Breast Exams, and I have to admit, for a moment or two there was a little adolescent giggle bubbling up inside me. Then it struck me that this kind of shit could get someone killed. A misdiagnosis on breast cancer for example could waste valuable time and cost lives:
Phillip Winikoff was charged in 2006 with three counts of sexual battery, two counts of practicing medicine without a license, two counts of simple battery and one count of using the title of doctor without a license. Winikoff, of Coconut Creek, was 76 years old when police arrested him for fondling two women’s breasts and genitals while masquerading as a doctor giving free, unsolicited checkups in an apartment complex.
Free and unsolicited, let that be a warning to all. Fortunately it doesn’t sound like he was very good at persuading uh, patients I guess would be the term, to utilize his services, and hopefully no lasting medical harm was done. My advice, if you’re desperate enough to pose as a health professional to touch women, try massage therapist, or something else that would minimize the consequences of your quackery. Better yet, see a real health professional, someone who specializes in mental issues.
Robert Service described this scenario in his poem Bessie’s Boil
On the other side, about 15 years ago, a local GP was convicted of sexual abuse for performing breast exams on all women of all ages (at least of legal age). This was independent of whether they came in with mammary lumps or ingrown toenails.
Actually, the term is “victim”. As that’s what one is when one has been assaulted.