By Joel Landau

Just like Doogie Howser, this teen doctor wasn't real either.

A 17-year-old boy dressed in a white lab coat, face mask and stethoscope around his neck told West Palm Beach police he was a doctor at St. Mary's Medical Center and had been practicing for years, according to a police report obtained by The Smoking Gun.

But Dr. Sebastian Kent and several nurses immediately contacted police Tuesday after seeing the young man — who isn't much older than the fictional TV character Doogie Howser — when he entered their OB/GYN office.

"He presented himself with a patient of our practice and introduced himself as Dr. Robinson," Kent said. "The first thing I thought was, 'I am really getting old because these young doctors look younger every year.'"

The teenager was able to fool a lot of people and went undetected by staff — including the hospital's security officers — for a month, police report.

Staff told officers they had seen him walk around the facility and the teenager would be referred to as "doctor." The hospital supplied surveillance footage that showed him walk around the hospital's wings but never entering a patient's room, police said.

The medical facility did not return a message seeking comment from a local newspaper, but said the teenager did not have contact with patients or enter any patients' rooms in a statement.

"The hospital immediately notified local authorities, who took the individual into custody, and we are cooperating with their ongoing investigation," the hospital said. "The safety and security of patients is our highest priority."

The child's mother responded to St. Mary's and told police he is under care by a physician for an undisclosed condition, but refuses to take his medication.

The fake doctor showed some real initiative and determination to pull off his ruse.

The lab cat had a St. Mary's logo and "anesthesiology" was embroidered on the coat. Police searched the vehicle and found additional doctor clothing and another white coat with "Natural Medicine" written on it.

Kent told police he found a note on his desk signed by the child using an alias asking if he could shadow the real doctor. His office said the physician was unavailable for comment.

The teenager also had a package of documents from the Good Samaritan Medical Center. A staff member told police she had seen him walking around the building once before.

The hospital did not return a call seeking comment.

Police declined to press charges after determining no crime had taken place.