A man who posed as a licensed medical doctor for over ten years—treating patients, prescribing drugs, and working in hospitals—has been unmasked as a fraud, as he may never have been qualified to wield a stethoscope.
Peter Matthew George, long considered a respected medical doctor in Liberia, is now at the centre of an intensifying scandal after the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) declared that he possesses no recognised medical degree and never studied at the institutions he claims.
According to a damning audit by the LMDC, George allegedly falsified his academic credentials and deceived medical authorities for more than a decade. In a statement issued by the council, officials revealed that George had claimed to have earned a degree in medicine from the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. However, investigations revealed a jarring discrepancy: the University does not—and never has—offered a degree in medicine.
A spokesperson for the University of Hertfordshire said: “Following a thorough review of our academic records, we can confirm that there is no evidence that this individual was ever awarded any degree by the University nor studied here. Any claim to the contrary is therefore false and constitutes a misrepresentation of our institution.”
The University added that it is working closely with Liberian authorities and will support any investigations into the matter.
George, who until recently maintained a LinkedIn page boasting a “professional doctorate in medicine (MD), general medicine” from Hertfordshire between 2010 and 2014, now claims he never made such assertions. That profile has since been removed.
Speaking to Time Africa, George appeared to backtrack, stating, “I never told anyone so. Those are make-up stories.” He now says his primary medical degree is from the University of Central Nicaragua—an institution whose own accreditation standards have faced scrutiny in recent years.
But the LMDC is not buying the sudden change in narrative. The council had given George 15 days to provide authentic documentation proving his qualifications. When he failed to respond, his medical licence was summarily revoked.
The implications of this revelation are severe. Over ten years of medical practice now hang in the balance, casting a dark shadow over Liberia’s healthcare system and raising questions about how a man with no apparent qualifications managed to work undetected for so long.
George, meanwhile, claims he is the victim of a political witch hunt. “I have served the Liberian health sector diligently for over a decade with no record of misconduct,” he told Time Africa, suggesting he is being targeted for “advocating for better welfare for doctors.”
The LMDC has remained firm, stating its decision is based solely on verifiable evidence—or in this case, the lack thereof.
Time Africa has reportedly reached out to both the LMDC and the Liberia Medical and Dental Association for further comment.
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