An unqualified person, who has been administering Botox, vitamin and dermal injections at a legally-registered clinic in Bangkok’s Srinagarind area for about five years, was arrested yesterday (Friday) as he was treating a client.

Police and officials from Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration and Health Service Support Department raided the clinic after they were informed that the beauty clinic might not be legal.

The police and officials encountered 36-year-old Passakorn as he was injecting something into the vein of a customer. They also found medical equipment and medicines in the clinic.

An official from the Health Service Support Department said that the clinic has a proper license, but Passakorn does not have a medical license. Passakorn told officials that he has a degree in communications arts, but used to work as an assistant nurse at a beauty clinic and learned some tricks in Botox, dermal filler and vitamin injections from the medical professionals there.

He also said that he has provided beauty treatments to more than 120 customers while working at this clinic.

Passakorn has been charged with performing medical procedures, operating a clinic and selling medicines and medical equipment without the required licenses.

Dr. Panuwat Panket, deputy director-general of Health Service Support Department, warned customers to check whether beauty clinics they plan to use have proper licenses before receiving any treatments.

For their own safety, they should check whether the name and picture of the doctor in the certificate, which is displayed at the clinic, match the name and face of the person who is to treat them.

He said that customers can check whether the doctor is real or fake by logging into www.tmc.or.th

The operator or owner of a clinic that allows an unqualified and unlicensed person to provide treatments to clients is liable to two years in prison and/or a fine of 40,000 baht on conviction.