The young man had been sentenced in 2023 to seven years for illegally practicing medicine during the pandemic
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The Córdoba justice system granted conditional release to Ignacio Martín, known as the "fake doctor of COE." He had been detained in the Río Cuarto prison since February 2021 and was serving a seven-year sentence for illegally practicing medicine during the pandemic. The measure was issued by the Second Nomination Criminal Chamber.
The judges considered that Martín had already served two-thirds of his sentence, which allows for his early release under conditions. His case received widespread attention during the health emergency, when he worked at the provincial Emergency Operations Center (COE) without a valid degree.
El fraude se descubrió en diciembre de 2020, luego de inconsistencias en su documentación y testimonios de personal sanitario.
A case that left its mark on health management during the pandemic
In September 2023, Martín was convicted of title usurpation, illegal practice of medicine, and aggravated fraud. He was acquitted, however, of the most serious charges: homicide with eventual intent and serious injury, for which the prosecution had requested sentences of up to 12 years in prison.
During the trial, the young man admitted that he did not have a professional license and issued a public apology. "I continue to declare myself innocent, but I want to reiterate my apologies," he stated before the court. His defense argued that he never intended to cause harm and that his actions were a response to the health chaos of the time.
Martín llegó a Río Cuarto en agosto de 2020 y se presentó como jefe del Centro de Operaciones Tácticas (COT), una división del COE.
How the fake COE doctor was discovered
Martín arrived in Río Cuarto in August 2020 and presented himself as head of the Tactical Operations Center (COT), a division of the COE. In that position, he treated patients, signed medical certificates, and authorized driver's licenses, despite having no medical training or license.
The fraud was discovered in December 2020, after inconsistencies in his documentation and testimonies from health personnel. He was arrested on February 4, 2021, in the city of Córdoba, and his case provoked a strong political and judicial reaction. The investigation revealed control failures within the COE during the peak of the pandemic.
Durante el juicio, el joven reconoció que no contaba con matrícula profesional y pidió disculpas públicas.
Repercussions and conditions of release
The release of Ignacio Martín sparked controversy among officials and judicial figures, who questioned the leniency of the system in the face of crimes committed during the emergency. Nevertheless, the court emphasized that this is a decision in accordance with the Penal Code, based on the fulfillment of the required time and good behavior in prison.
Martín used his detention to study law in prison and expressed remorse before the judges. "I made a mistake and I am paying for the acts for which I took responsibility," he stated in his last intervention. With this measure, the former fake doctor remains under judicial supervision, subject to strict compliance with the imposed rules.
