The botulinum toxin has been used for clinical and cosmetic purposes. It is regulated the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as such. Any mislabeling or purposefully misleading people of its use can be a federal offense. That is what happened when a nurse pleads guilty to illegally distributing Botox.
Botox is the commercial name of the botulinum toxin distributed by Allergan. Allergan has been approved by the FDA to commercially distribute and sell the product. However, only a licensed medical doctor can administer the product to patients. Distribution of the product without the proper labels and identification is a federal offense.
Bridget "Gigi" Goddard has been charged with illegally receiving and delivering Botox without any proper identification labels on it. This happened after a sting operation has been done wherein an FDA operative posing as a customer caught her, according to MyNews LA. Goddard will likely plead guilty to the charge of receipt and delivery of a misbranded drug.
Goddard is the owner of Pure Indulgence Skin Rejuvenation, Inc. The spa is claimed to be frequented by stars from "Real Housewives of Orange County." According to search warrants, Goddard claims to have been featured in the show as well as on the CBS program "The Doctors," as Metro reports.
Goddard is said to have purchased the products online. The purchase has been made from SB Medical Inc. which has also been involved in a federal case in 2015 for distributing misbranded products. SB Medical Inc. has ceased operation. After it shut down, Goddard purchased the products from a Canadian source called Doctor Medica.
Goddard will be making her first appearance in court on December 12. Her spa has also been shut down. Some of the customers have prepaid for services and are said to be asking a refund. George Karavestos, head of the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations said that they are primarily targeting high volume purchasers as well as those who ignore FDA warnings about mislabeled products.
The botulinum toxin is a federally regulated substance, and any product that is mislabeled or misbranded should not be distributed. A nurse pleads guilty to illegally distributing Botox. A report also states that the FDA has approved drug ads for unapproved treatment, which is causing concern among medical practitioners.
