80 criminal charges filed against nursing home administrators in Cidra for negligent homicide and fraud
The Department of Justice filed 80 charges against the administrators of "Mi nuevo hogar" in Cidra for abuse, fraud and negligent homicide of a geriatric patient.
Nursing home administrators in Cidra accused of patient death and misappropriation of public funds
Puerto Rico's Department of Justice presented on Tuesday 80 criminal charges against the administrators of the long-term care facility "Mi nuevo hogar", located in Cidra, for abuse and negligence towards geriatric and psychiatric patients under their custody. This was reported by metro.pr, citing confirmation from the agency's secretary, Lourdes L. Gómez Torres.
Among the charges is negligent homicide for the death of a patient who was admitted to a hospital in critical condition and with evident physical deterioration. Despite the medical attention received during her hospitalisation, her condition continued to worsen until causing her death.
The defendants and their role in the facility
As of 14 October 2021, Vladimir Rosa Solá served as administrator and director of the facility, whilst Giselle Alvarado Pérez served as services coordinator. The investigation, led by prosecutor Brenda Rosado Aponte and agent Tania Mora Pagán of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, determined that both appropriated the identities of doctors to give legitimacy to the process of licensing the home before the Administration of Mental Health Services and Against Addiction (ASSMCA). The facility was subsequently closed by that entity.
Negligence, discrimination and government fraud
The investigation revealed that the patients, who had health plans, were discriminated against in the provision of services and were left without the necessary attention for their diagnoses and individualised treatment plans.
Furthermore, the investigation concluded that the facility defrauded contracts and programmes of the Government of Puerto Rico by receiving funds from the Department of the Family for essential health services that were never provided to the residents.
Breakdown of the 80 charges
Prosecutor Rosado Aponte presented 40 charges against each defendant. Rosa Solá and Alvarado Pérez face, respectively:
- Four charges for negligence in care
- Five for abuse of elderly persons
- Four for illegal appropriation
- Five for illegal appropriation of identity
- Sixteen for possession and transfer of documents
- Five for discrimination in mental health services
- One for negligent homicide
The charges correspond to violations of articles 127, 127-A, 182, 209 and 217 of the Puerto Rico Penal Code, Article 15.08 of Mental Health Law No. 408 and Article 96 of the Penal Code.
$20,000 bail and electronic monitoring
Judge María Hernández Calzada, of the Court of First Instance in Caguas, found probable cause for all charges presented by the Prosecutor's Office and set bail at $20,000 for each defendant. Both will remain under electronic monitoring as the proceedings advance. The preliminary hearing was scheduled for 30 September.
The Public Ministry also requested total restitution of $33,595.48 for the misappropriated public funds.
"People who receive mental health services deserve adequate attention, protection and dignified treatment", said Gómez Torres. "This case reflects the serious consequences that failing to meet that duty can have. From the Department of Justice, we will act with firmness against conduct that puts at risk the health, safety and lives of patients who depend on others for their care."
Source: Google News PR — Crime