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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPY vs DONG FENG ZHOU, L.M.T., 13-002418PL (2013)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 13-002418PL Visitors: 29
Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPY
Respondent: DONG FENG ZHOU, L.M.T.
Judges: JOHN G. VAN LANINGHAM
Agency: Department of Health
Locations: Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Filed: Jun. 27, 2013
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, August 6, 2013.

Latest Update: May 18, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, PETITIONER, v. CASE NO. 2012-14142 DONG FENG ZHOU, L.M.T., RESPONDENT. / ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT COMES NOW, Petitioner, Department of Health, by and through its undersigned counsel, and files this Administrative Complaint before the Board of Massage Therapy against the Respondent, Dong Feng Zhou, L.M.T., and in support thereof alleges: 1. Petitioner is the state agency charged with regulating the practice of massage therapy pursuant to Section 20.43, Florida Statutes (2012), and Chapters 456 and 480, Florida Statutes (2012). 2. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent was licensed as a massage therapist in the State of Florida, having been issued license number MA 55229. iofs 3. Respondent’s address. of record is 7901 Catalina Circle, Tamarac, Florida 33321. 4. Onor about November 5, 2008, Respondent submitted a State of Florida Application for Licensure as a massage therapist (‘Application’) to the Florida Department of Health Board of Massage Therapy (‘Florida Board”). 5. On her Application, Respondent indicated that she attended Medix School. 6. — Medix School is not a Florida Board approved school. 7. Respondent's Application further reveals that Respondent did not attend an apprenticeship program. 8. Pursuant to Section 480.041(1)(b), Florida Statutes (2008), in order to qualify for licensure as a massage therapist in the State of Florida pursuant to Chapter 480, Florida Statutes, a person must complete a course of study at a board-approved massage school or complete an apprenticeship program that meets the standards adopted by the board. 9. Submitted to the Florida Board in support of Respondent's Application was a transcript from Florida College of Natural Health (*FCNH’). DOH v. Dong Feng Zhou, L.M.T. Page 2 of 8 DOH Case Number 2012-14142 10. The FCNH transcript represents that Respondent earned five hundred credit hours in the FCNH Therapeutic Massage Training Program (Transfer of Licensure). 11. The FCNH transcript indicates that Respondent started the FCNH Therapeutic Massage Training Program (Transfer of Licensure) on December 5, 2008, and completed the program on December 6, 2008. 12. Respondent also submitted, in support of her Application, a FCNH Certificate of Completion of twelve hours of Therapeutic Massage Training Program (Transfer of Licensure) dated December 6, 2008. 13. Also submitted in support of Respondent's Application was a FCNH Certificate of Completion of two hours of Prevention of Medical Errors dated December 6, 2008. 14. On or about July 19, 2012, the Vice President of Compliance and Institutional Effectiveness for FCNH (“V.P.") certified that the FCNH transcript Respondent submitted in support of her Application is fraudulent. 15. In addition, the V.P. certified that Respondent did not complete the courses identified in the FCNH certificates Respondent submitted in support of her Application. DOH v. Dong Feng Zhou, L.M.T. Page 3 of 8 DOH Case Number 2012-14142 COUNT ONE 16. Petitioner realleges paragraphs 1 through 15, as if fully set forth herein. 17. Section 480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2008), subjects a massage therapist to discipline for violating any provision of Chapter 480 or 456, Florida Statutes, or any rules adopted pursuant thereto. 18. Section 456.072(1)(h), Florida Statutes (2008), subjects a massage therapist to discipline for attempting to obtain, obtaining, or renewing a license to practice a profession by bribery, by fraudulent misrepresentation, or through an error of the department or the board. 19. Based on the foregoing, Respondent has violated Section 480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2008), by violating Section 456.072(1)(h), Florida Statutes (2008), by obtaining her license to practice massage therapy in the State of Florida through error of the Department of Health or through fraudulent misrepresentation. COUNT TWO 20. Petitioner realleges paragraphs 1 through 15, as if fully set forth herein. DOH v. Dong Feng Zhou, L.M.T. Page 4 of 8 DOH Case Number 2012-14142 21. Section 480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2008), subjects a massage therapist to discipline for violating any provision of Chapter 480 or 456, Florida Statutes, or any rules adopted pursuant thereto. 22. Section 456.072(1)(w), Florida Statutes (2008), subjects a massage therapist to discipline for failing to comply with the requirements for profiling and credentialing, including, but not limited to, failing to provide initial information, failing to timely provide updated information, or making misleading, untrue, deceptive, or fraudulent representations on a profile, credentialing, or initial or renewal licensure application. 23. Based on the foregoing, Respondent has violated Section 480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2008), by violating Section 456.072(1)(w), Florida Statutes (2008), by failing to comply with the requirements for profiling and credentialing. COUNT THREE 24. Petitioner realleges paragraphs 1 through 15, as if fully set forth herein. 25. Section 480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2008), subjects a licensee to discipline for violating any provision of Chapter 480 or Chapter 456, or any rules adopted pursuant thereto. DOH v. Dong Feng Zhou, L.M.T. Page 5o0f8 DOH Case Number 2012-14142 26. Pursuant to Section 480.041(1)(b), Florida Statutes (2008), in order to qualify for licensure as a massage therapist in the State of Florida, a person must complete a course of study at a Florida Board-approved massage school or complete an apprenticeship program that meets the standards adopted by the Florida Board. 27. Respondent is not qualified to hold a license as a massage therapist because she failed to complete a course of study at a Florida Board-approved massage school and failed to complete an apprenticeship program that meets the standards adopted by the Florida Board. 28. Based on the foregoing, Respondent violated Section 480.046(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2008), by obtaining a license as a massage therapist without completing a course of study at a Florida Board- approved massage school or an apprenticeship program that meets the standards adopted by the Florida Board, in violation of Section 480.041(1)(b), Florida Statutes (2008). WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests that the Board of Massage Therapy enter an order imposing one or more of the following penalties: permanent revocation or suspension of Respondent's license, restriction of practice, imposition of an administrative fine, issuance of a DOH v. Dong Feng Zhou, L.M.T. Page 6 of 8 OOH Case Number 2012-14142 reprimand, placement of Respondent on probation, corrective action, and/or any other relief that the Board of Massage Therapy deems appropriate. SIGNED this |XX day of OC Ane ( , 2012. John H. Armstrong, MD State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health a \ ~~ ~~ FILED \ ; DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH — DEPUTY CLERK ALICIA E. ADAMS, ESQ. CLERK Angela Barton Assistant General Counsel DATE — 10/17/2012 Florida Bar No. 0065248 DOH Prosecution Services Unit 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-65 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3265 (P) 850-245-4640 (F) 850-245-4662 (E) Alicia_Adams@doh.state.fl.us PCP Date: October 15, 2012 PCP Members: Lydia Nixon, LMT and Karen Harrison, LMT DOH v, Dong Feng Zhou, L.M.T. Page 7 of 8 DOH Case Number 2012-14142 NOTICE OF RIGHTS Respondent has the right to request a hearing to be conducted in accordance with Section 120.569 and 120.57, Fiorida Statutes, to be represented by counsel or other qualified representative, to present evidence and argument, to call and cross-examine witnesses, and to have subpoena and subpoena duces tecum issued on his or her behalf if a hearing is requested. NOTICE REGARDING ASSESSMENT OF COSTS Respondent is placed on notice that Petitioner has incurred costs related to the investigation and prosecution of this matter. Pursuant to Section 456.072(4), Florida Statutes, the Board shall assess costs related to the investigation and prosecution of a disciplinary matter, which may include attorney hours and costs, on Respondent in addition to any other discipline imposed. DOH v. Dong Feng Zhou, L.M.T. Page 8 of 8 DOH Case Number 2012-14142

Docket for Case No: 13-002418PL
Issue Date Proceedings
Aug. 06, 2013 Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
Aug. 05, 2013 Joint Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
Jul. 19, 2013 Notice of Service of Respondent's First Set of Interrogatories to Petitioner filed.
Jul. 19, 2013 Respondent's Request for Production of Documents filed.
Jul. 19, 2013 Respondent's First Request for Admissions filed.
Jul. 08, 2013 Notice of Appearance (George Indest) filed.
Jul. 05, 2013 Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
Jul. 05, 2013 Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for September 4, 2013; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL).
Jul. 03, 2013 Joint Response to the Initial Order filed.
Jun. 28, 2013 Initial Order.
Jun. 28, 2013 Notice of Appearance of Co-Counsel (Daniel Hernandez) filed.
Jun. 27, 2013 Notice of Appearance (filed by R. Harkins).
Jun. 27, 2013 Administrative Complaint filed.
Jun. 27, 2013 Request for Administrative Hearing filed.
Jun. 27, 2013 Agency referral filed.
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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