Editor’s Note: Please read the update to this article here which contains the official report from the Surgeon General.
Melbourne, FL – March 14, 2025 – If you or a loved one has been a patient of Dr. Lily J. Voepel, MD, an interventional pain management doctor in Melbourne, Florida, within the last two years, you may have been exposed to Hepatitis C. Authorities have placed an emergency restriction on Dr. Voepel’s medical license due to this serious health risk, yet she continues to see patients. The Health Department is offering free testing to all affected patients, and immediate action is critical to safeguard your health.
Emergency Restriction on Dr. Voepel’s License
On March 12, 2025, an Emergency Restriction Order was issued for Dr. Lily J. Voepel’s medical license (License No. ME85032), as confirmed by the medical licensing authorities. This restriction signals a serious concern about her practice. Despite this, her license remains active, and she is still accepting appointments at her office located at 4015 N. Harbor City Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32935. This ongoing activity heightens the urgency for patients to take protective measures.
Potential Hepatitis C Exposure
According to patients that have been contacted by the Health Department, they were identified as a potential risk of Hepatitis C exposure linked to Dr. Voepel’s practice. Hepatitis C is a viral infection spread by infected blood contact that can severely damage the liver if not detected and treated early. It can be life threatening. All patients who have visited Dr. Voepel in the last two years are urged to get tested immediately. Information patients have received from the Health Department indicate that the situation may affect a large number of individuals, with one source describing it as “not even the tip of the iceberg.” For example, a patient who saw Dr. Voepel just two days ago is still awaiting test results, while another patient’s mother, tested after a visit over a year ago, fortunately received a negative result. The risk is real and ongoing. Even if tested negative, patients are urged to get re-tested in 6 months as Hep C can have an incubation period up to that period of time. Read more about it here.
