P.E.I. podiatrist facing questions over what credentials he has for the job

A Prince Edward Island podiatrist who calls himself "Dr. John Johnson, DP" and treats Islanders for various foot conditions is facing allegations he has no formal credentials.

CBC News has asked John Johnson for proof of his credentials, but he hasn't provided them.

Johnson's stepmother claims the 26-year-old has misled patients.  

"I just want people to know what's going on there and that to be safe," said his stepmother Melanie Johnson, who recently filed for divorce from his father. "Would you ever let a person … cut into your foot if you didn't think he was certified and educated?"

Johnson first made headlines in late June, when P.E.I.'s Chief Public Health Office (CPHO) announced it was investigating a break in infection prevention measures at Johnson Podiatry, after receiving a complaint about its cleaning and sterilization protocols. 

At that time, Johnson told CBC News he is an owner of the clinic, which recently moved from Charlottetown to Stratford. 

The CPHO advised patients who had attended his clinic between January 2022 and April 2024 and had received injections into the skin, treatments for ingrown nails or ulcers, or corn or callus removal surgeries to get tested for hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV. 

Health officials confirmed days later that more than 100 patients had either been tested or had an appointment booked for a test.  

The CPHO said the issues at the clinic had been corrected and the risk to patients was very low. 

Graduate of U.K. university?  

After the story was published, CBC News received a tip from a member of the public claiming Johnson had no formal credentials. 

Melanie Johnson came forward with the same allegations.  

She claims Johnson spent some time working under his father, Brian, who is a licensed podiatrist in New Brunswick — and began practising in his own right a couple of years ago.

However, Melanie alleges John never received any formal podiatry education. 

She showed a screenshot of a Google Review she posted about Johnson Podiatry in January, questioning John's credentials. That review has since been taken down.

The clinic responded to the review by commenting: "The above statement is completely false... Dr. John Johnson attended Salford University in the U.K. and graduated with a doctorate in podiatry... Practising with no formal education or doctorate would be highly illegal, and obviously cannot happen."

Salford University, located near Manchester, does offer a three-year bachelor of science degree in podiatry. However, the university told CBC News it has no record of a person named John Johnson ever registering in the program.

Insurance billing questions 

In its reply to that review, the clinic appeared to rely on its billing practices as evidence of Johnson's credentials. "All insurance companies are covering Dr. John Johnson with no issue," the clinic wrote.

CBC News has confirmed John Johnson is registered with some major health insurance providers, and can bill them for his services. 

Melanie Johnson said she reached out to the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) about John Johnson. 

In an email to CBC News, the association said insurers "rely on provincial colleges to regulate members of their own profession... The process does include a validation of the provider's credentials through their college, regularly and routinely."

A spokesperson for one of those providers, Medavie Blue Cross, said while P.E.I. doesn't have a regulatory college, the company relies on the P.E.I. Podiatry Association to ensure the credentials of its members. John Johnson's father, Brian, is the president of that association.

'It's a bit of a free-for-all'

Although podiatry is regulated in most of Canada, it isn't in Prince Edward Island.

"If there were regulations in place, this wouldn't or shouldn't happen, and there'd be a consequence to someone," said Howard Green, president of the Canadian Podiatric Medicine Association (CPMA). "But without the regulations in place, unfortunately it's a bit of a free-for-all."

Eight Canadian provinces have regulatory colleges or associations that license podiatrists, and require them to have set educational credentials. 

Some provinces require a four-year undergraduate degree, followed by another four-year program to obtain certification as a doctor of podiatric medicine. A few provinces accept graduation from a three- or four-year bachelor's program in podiatry or podiatric medicine, offered in the United Kingdom.  

"It's patient safety, and safety to the public. That's the biggest thing," said Green.

"If you've got the education, the post-graduate training, the credentials, in theory, you'd be safe to practise. And there's a licensing process in each province as well, to ensure you meet the minimum standards in that province."

Not licensed in New Brunswick

Green said the "DP" abbreviation used by Johnson on his clinic wall isn't an academic credential, but a legislative designation specific to New Brunswick. 

Technically, he said, in the absence of regulation, anyone on the Island could call themselves a podiatrist. 

A certificate from the P.E.I. Podiatry Association, signed in 2019, is hung on the wall at Johnson Podiatry. It says "Dr. John Johnson" has "met all the requirements of registration" in the P.E.I. Podiatry Association, and is "hereby admitted a full member of the association with all rights and privileges."

The association's website is currently offline, but according to a screenshot, a practising member must be a graduate of a nationally recognized podiatry program, and must complete the New Brunswick Podiatry Association's licensing exam. 

In emails to CBC News, New Brunswick's association said: "John Johnson has never been licensed in N.B. as a podiatrist" and "has never written an exam in N.B."

CBC News reached out to Brian Johnson to ask about his son's status within the P.E.I. organization for comment, but didn't receive a response.

Issues flagged with health department 

Melanie Johnson said she also wrote the P.E.I. Department of Health and Wellness in February, alleging John Johnson had no formal credentials as a podiatrist. She said the department acknowledged the email, but did not respond to its contents. 

P.E.I.'s health and justice departments would not confirm whether they've looked into Johnson, beyond the CPHO's investigation into infection control measures. 

But a  spokesperson for both departments responded in an email, highlighting two sections of P.E.I.'s Regulated Health Professions Act. 

One section prevents unregulated professionals from doing certain activities, including:

• performing procedures under the skin,
• diagnosing diseases and disorders,
• prescribing drugs, and
• applying energy.  

The other section prevents unregulated professionals from "using a title, name, description, abbreviation or derivative in any language implying that a person is a member of a regulated health profession."

The statement said the P.E.I. government is planning to bring in podiatry regulations this fall.

'Criminal and civil problems'

Allan Hutchinson, a research professor at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, said if the allegations against Johnson are true, he's potentially committing multiple crimes — ranging from fraud to assault. 

"You can say 'I'm a doctor' in some abstract fashion," said Hutchinson. "But if you utilize that credential in order to either obtain fees, remuneration, or to touch people — invade their bodily space — then that's certainly not acceptable and runs into criminal and civil problems.

"If you deal with people pretending that you are some kind of medical practitioner and obtain their consent based upon that, then that consent is not valid and that's an assault."

CBC News reached out to John Johnson but didn't receive a response.