Rio de Janeiro judge orders detention of fake doctor

A judge in Rio de Janeiro has ordered the preventive detention of Diogo dos Santos Serpa, an individual who was practicing medicine without a degree or professional registration. Serpa was arrested in Nova Iguaçu while performing a home visit for a 10-year-old girl suffering from a malignant brain tumor.

Investigations reveal that Serpa had been treating the child since October 2025, conducting at least six consultations with fees ranging from R$ 700 to R$ 1,000 per visit. He allegedly used the identity and documents of licensed physician Jeferson Targino Sampaio to prescribe medication and request exams.

The fraud was discovered by the child's mother, who became suspicious of his medical conduct and later verified that the professional details on his stamp did not match the photo in the regional medical council (Cremerj) database.