Community Outreach: Fake Surgeon Makes (Road)House Calls

I know it’s late on a Friday afternoon and maybe few will read this but as a budding journalist, I feel compelled to write this story as it is a tale that cannot wait to be told.

Today, MSNBC reports that a woman pretended to be a plastic surgeon and talked two or more other women into allowing her to examine their breasts in bars in the Boise, Idaho area. She told them her name was Berlyn Aussieahshowna, which believe it or not, “was bogus” or so the account reads. She gave them the phone number of a real plastic surgeon whose office staff became increasingly concerned after receiving “a number” of calls looking to make appointments for liposuction and breast augmentation with Berlyn Aussieahshowna, whose real name is Kristina Ross.

Then the story gets a little weird as it turns out the Ms. Ross is a “transgendered” individual formerly known as Kristoffer Jon Ross.

The perpetrator has been charged with two felony counts of impersonating a physician.

Not mentioned in the article but follow up questions come to mind. For example, what were the victims thinking when they allowed themselves to undergo breast examinations in bars (not that such a thing has never happened before)? However, it probably has not occurred too often under the guise of a medical procedure. And what sort of woman undergoes the exam (OK, she had a few drinks. She figured she’d get a free exam.) but then apparently when sober, calls for an appointment to schedule surgery with the good doctor? In retrospect, does this still seem like a good idea?

And who says health care is not accessible to the masses?

Update: In April of 2011, Ms. Ross, who had pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor battery, was sentenced to 360 days in jail.