From the darkest depths of unhinged TikTok, the following case takes the cake on “fake it till you make it…sort of.”
On October 29, 2023, Mr. Matthew Lani, who presents himself as a doctor on TikTok, was arrested for faking his medical credentials and trespassing at the Helen Joesph Hospital. Lani was apprehended after a string of text messages revealed that he claimed to be a doctor, providing medical advice on TikTok and selling unprescribed medications.
Who Is Dr Matthew Lani?
Matthew Lani is sort of a massive content creator in South Africa…and that is precisely what he did: creating a fool out of everyone.
Here’s a list of claims he made to his followers who subscribed to his medical advice on TikTok–
- Lani’s first lies began with his high school education, where he claimed to have gotten a diploma from Cambridge International College and skipped three grades, graduating early at 16.
- The internet sensation claimed he was enrolled at the University of Witwatersrand between 2014 and 2021 and earned a medical degree at 21.
- Straight out of University, he was working at a hospital in Johannesburg with a medical license from the Health Professionals Council of South Africa.
Based on these credentials, he amassed a staggering 294,000 followers with his medical advice and also sold weight-loss pills.
However, in an unnerving plot twist, the 27-year-old internet sensation has faked his entire medical record and experience.
Why Was the Fake TikTok Doctor Matthew Lani Arrested?
Providing unsolicited medical and healthcare advice without a degree/license can yield harmful consequences and, in a worst-case scenario, can also cost someone’s life.
Lani faking his medical expertise may have intense ramifications on his followers, who are unaware of his scam. Hence, the TikToker was arrested after investigations exposed his text messages and videos, implying he was a healthcare professional.
On a Sunday night of October 29, Matthew Lani was seen trying to break into Helen Joesph Hospital with a fake ID card, wearing a Sponge Bob T-shirt, a lab coat, and a stethoscope. On October 30, a 21-second video was uploaded on X that showed the TikToker being apprehended and taken for questioning, where he vehemently denied and deflected the allegations.
In the latest update, the charges against the fake doctor have been withdrawn.
Later, he stated that he never prescribed medicines to anyone in a press conference after his court hearing–
What are your thoughts on this case? Do you agree with the verdict? Should Matthew Lani be considered a cautionary tale in the medical field, as there have been almost 124 other registered cases of bogus doctors?
Let us know in the comments below.
