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Fake doctor might have worked in Haines City

<p>Manuel Cordova</p>

Haines City, Florida -- The search is on for patients who police say may have been diagnosed and treated by an alleged fake doctor from Orlando operating out of a medical clinic in Haines City.

Manuel Cordova, 75, is in big trouble with the law. He's been arrested and the medical clinic he allegedly operated at 56 N. 5th St. in Haines City has been shut down.

Ken Specht works nearby. He says, "He seemed OK to me. I mean he was lucid and rational."

Haines City police say they have no idea why Cordova would want to pretend to be a doctor. They say Florida's Department of Health alerted them to Cordova after a health department worker says he heard Cordova on 1570 AM radio station medically diagnosing people during a call-in program.

The worker says a caller would describe their symptoms and Cordova would diagnose them and then refer him to his office to be seen. Police say the problem is Cordova doesn't have a medical license.

Police say there were plenty of red flags at Cordova's clinic. Assistant Police Chief Brian McNulty says, "The hours of operation were not conducive to a typical doctor. It's not 8 to 5 – Monday through Friday. It was only a couple hours a week."

Cordova's name on the door of the clinic says, "Dr. Cordova-ND-NTP" Detectives believe that "ND" stands for "Doctor of Naturopathy." Investigators say naturopathy or naturopathic medicine is a form of alternative medicine which is not recognized or licensed by the state of Florida.

Monday afternoon Cordova's office was locked tight. But we were able to see his medical certificates easily through the windows of the clinic which may be the reason why so many of his alleged patients trusted him.

The clinic has a patient waiting room and plenty of bottles of pills in a glass case as you walk in the door.

Cordova was arrested after detectives say he diagnosed two undercover officers. In one case he allegedly diagnosed an officer with bad kidneys, a bad liver, cirrhosis of the liver as well as erectile dysfunction.

Investigators say one of the undercover officers was asked to fill out what appeared to be medical forms that stated that Cordova was not a medical doctor and did not make diagnoses.

But after he filled out the paperwork he says the receptionist who was wearing scrubs asked him to place his head on a machine that took a picture of his eyes. He was later told that he had a high amount of acid in his eyes. While the undercover officer says he wasn't charged for the visit he was prescribed over $400 in herbal medications that he was told he could buy at the medical clinic.

Those who work at surrounding businesses are stunned.

Specht adds, "Well, if you're not a doctor -- unless you're a real true M.D. -- you shouldn't claim to be one."

Police are trying to get the word out that if you were one of Cordova's patients they want to talk to you to make sure you get the medical help you may need.

Florida's Department of Health is urging you to use the department’s website www.flhealthsource.gov where you can view the license information of your health care practitioner. Complaints may be filed anonymously by completing and mailing the complaint form on the Florida Department of Health’s Web site, calling 1-877-HALT-ULA, or emailing HALTULA@flhealth.gov.

After Cordova was arrested police say he told them he spent $6,000 for a medical degree from a college in Alabama in order to practice medicine. When investigators asked for the name of the school he told them he he couldn't name it.

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