The Conselho Federal de Medicina (CFM) launched a digital platform on Thursday, May 28, 2026 [1], to report the illegal practice of medicine in Brazil.
This initiative addresses a critical public health risk by centralizing reports of medical complications caused by unqualified practitioners. By gathering data on patient harm, the CFM aims to strengthen judicial and administrative actions against individuals operating without medical training.
The tool, named “Canal de Denúncia contra a Prática Ilegal da Medicina,” is available to both the general population and healthcare professionals [1]. It is specifically designed to document cases of sequelae, infections, and mutilations resulting from surgical or aesthetic procedures [2].
Illegal medical practice often manifests in the beauty and wellness sector, where non-doctors may perform invasive procedures without the necessary credentials. The platform allows victims and witnesses to provide evidence of these activities to the federal council [1].
The CFM said the data collected through the portal will serve as a foundation for legal proceedings [2]. This systematic approach is intended to map the prevalence of fake doctors across different regions of Brazil, a move that could lead to more targeted law enforcement interventions.
Health professionals are encouraged to use the system when they encounter patients who have suffered damages from illegal practitioners [3]. This collaborative effort between licensed doctors and the public is intended to create a comprehensive database of illegal medical activity [1].
“The platform allows victims and witnesses to provide evidence of these activities to the federal council.”
The creation of a centralized reporting database signals a shift toward a data-driven enforcement strategy in Brazil's healthcare sector. By linking clinical outcomes—such as infections and mutilations—directly to the identity of unqualified practitioners, the CFM is building a legal evidentiary chain that makes it harder for fake doctors to operate undetected across different jurisdictions.
