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Hernando Today

Police: Fake Doctor Arrested Again

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By KYLE MARTIN

Hernando Today

Published: June 3, 2008

SPRING HILL - A Spring Hill man, charged last year with pretending to be a doctor, is accused of practicing medicine on his girlfriend.

Anthony David, 31, of 5191 Merrifield Court, was picked up on a Hillsborough County warrant Saturday outside the Lowe's hardware store on Commercial Way.

On Monday, Capt. Hugh Miller with the Tampa Police Department explained why:

As soon as David bonded out last October, he began using an Internet dating service to meet new women.

He began a relationship with a Tampa woman in January and told her he was an assistant to an orthopedic physician, Miller said.

At one point, his girlfriend went to a doctor for an unspecified condition and was prescribed antibiotics. David discouraged her from taking those pills, saying it would only complicate her condition, Miller said.

She took his advice and filled a prescription David gave her for an antifungal medication, Miller said.

While the couple took a Memorial Day weekend trip to the Keys, the victim's family began investigating David's background.

When they discovered that David reportedly posed as a doctor at Tampa General, they were concerned enough to bring her back home.

Law enforcement got involved and by the end of the week, David was arrested again, this time on charges of unlicensed practice of a health profession and delivery of a controlled substance.

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com

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