A physiotherapist who administered an unlicensed, Botox-like product to a number of clients at his Dublin practice has been found guilty of professional misconduct and poor professional performance.
Igor Castro, who operates a physiotherapy practice in O’Connell Street in Dublin, appeared before a fitness-to-practise inquiry over his use and promotion of Liztox – a Korean botulinum toxin product similar to Botox which is used for aesthetic treatments.
A fitness-to-practise committee of CORU – the regulatory body of health and social care professionals – found an allegation proven that Mr Castro had administered Liztox to three clients at his practice in October 2023.
The committee also found it proven that the Brazilian had posted one or more posts on his Instagram account between October 2023 and November 2023 promoting the fact that he was administering the Botox-like product to clients.
The inquiry’s chairperson, Geraldine Feeney, said the committee made its findings on the basis of Mr Castro’s own admissions and the uncontroverted evidence of a number of witnesses including Ciaran Wright, an enforcement officer with the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
She said his actions in administering Liztox when it was outside his scope as a physiotherapist also represented reaches of the profession’s Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics.
“These findings are very serious and go to the issue of public safety,” said Ms Feeney.
She noted that the physiotherapist’s patients had been misled and potentially put at risk.
Ms Feeney said the lack of care for patient safety also demonstrated poor professional performance.
The committee observed that an expert witness had pointed out that Mr Castro was not legally qualified to administer an unlicensed product which was a “potentially harmful substance.”
Ms Feeney said the physiotherapist had demonstrated extremely poor judgement and brought the profession into disrepute.
She acknowledged that Mr Castro had cooperated fully from the outset with an investigation by the HPRA and subsequently the CORU inquiry and had made complete admissions about his conduct which she said had demonstrated insight into his wrongdoing.
The committee accepted he had also allowed documents to be admitted without formal proof which had saved CORU considerable time and resources.
Ms Feeney noted that the committee was satisfied that there was little or no risk that Mr Castro would repeat the same conduct in future based on his evidence, insight and statement of regret.
She acknowledged that he had provided the inquiry with several references which described him as a “conscientious and good” physiotherapist.
Ms Feeney said the committee was also impressed by the fact that Mr Castro was undertaking continuous education for the purpose of improving his skills and providing physiotherapy services.
The committee said it would take into account such mitigating factors in recommending a sanction which it claimed would act as a deterrent to breaches of the code of conduct and maintain public confidence in the profession.
The recommended sanction needs to be formally ratified by the CORU council and confirmed by the High Court if it involves a period of suspension.
