Health Minister: “It Is Normal for the Family to Blame the Hospital”

Pablo Marin

So while Marsha Romero is taking legal action, today, we asked Health Minister Pablo Marin about the allegations of malpractice and neglect at the Southern Regional Hospital. According to Marin, an investigation is under way and while he does not know when that investigation will be completed, he says that it is normal for the family of the deceased to blame the hospital for the death. 

Pablo Marin, Minister of Health

“I have heard about it and I think my DHS mentioned that we need to wait until the final breakdown we receive; until then we can say anything about it.”

Hipolito Novelo

“What happens next? Is it that the officials from the Southern Regional Hospital will investigate these allegations or officials from the Ministry of Health will go in and assist with the investigation? What’s the procedure?”

Pablo Marin

“The first procedure is the Ministry of Health will look at what happened and if there is any litigation, then we will have to bring someone from outside to look also at the matter; that is the second step.”

Hipolito Novelo

“What’s the timeline in terms of that?”

Pablo Marin

“I don’t exactly know. Sometimes it takes one month for us to look at it, but we are looking at it.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Is it alarming for you, as the Minister of Health, that two allegations are being made leading to two causes of death?”

Pablo Marin

“No; it is normal when somebody loses a family member, it is only natural for them to find someone to put the blame on. And that is why we said we have to look at what happened and our people will have to investigate.”