Vancouver Coastal Health is advising the public to be aware that a man has been posing as a fake surgeon at the Vancouver General Hospital.

According to a public advisory, Asten Nguyen Phong Nguyen (“Dr. Nguyen Nguyen”) has been advertising his services as a surgeon operating out of the hospital. What’s more, he is asking prospective patients to pay him a deposit for their surgery.

While he claims to be a surgeon, he has no affiliation with VCH, and he is not registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia. As a result, he is not authorized to practice medicine in the province.

Any patients who have paid Nguyen Nguyen a deposit for surgery should contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. as well as your local police department immediately.

Members of the public who wish to verify a registered physician or surgeon’s qualifications, credentials and affiliations should conduct a search on the College’s Physician Directory.

— Elana Shepert, Vancouver is Awesome