Cape Town - Jules Lusman, dubbed “Dr Feelgood” by foreign media after he was found guilty of supplying drugs to celebs like Winona Ryder and Courtney Love, is practising medicine in Sea Point, despite his medical licence being revoked years ago in the US.
According to the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA), the South African-born doctor is indeed all-owed to work here, regardless of his past.
In 2002 Lusman, now 61, was found guilty of providing heavy painkillers to Ryder.
Police found that he had been supplying large quantities of the medication to the Golden Globe winner, as well as her high- profile friends.
He was also rumoured, according to media reports, to have charged clients $1 000 (R10 900) to make house calls. His official rate was reported to be nearly $300 an hour.
Despite having his licence revoked, Lusman was caught the following year performing “facial rejuvenation” on two women using Perlane, then a substance unapproved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
He was charged with four felonies and four misdemeanours, and sentenced to five years probation for practising medicine after losing his licence.
Lusman was back in the headlines, this time in South Africa in 2010, after he reportedly billed motorcyclist Marc Peeters R580 after he stopped to help him at an accident scene.
HPCSA spokeswoman Lize Nel confirmed that Lusman, despite his transgressions overseas, was registered with the organisation and was allowed to practise medicine.
She said, however, that “a final determination” had still to be made.
She would not say whether any complaints against Lusman had been lodged here.
Several attempts by Weekend Argus to contact Lusman for comment proved fruitless this week.
Weekend Argus