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President Raúl Villalobos of Physician Correctional took a strong stance on Sunday against Senator José Vargas Vidot, UtiCorp, and former Bar Association president Manuel Quilinchini, in light of the Department of Justice’s conclusion that the company and/or its staff did not engage in criminal activity while facilitating the early release of convicted murderer Hermes Ávila Vázquez.
Villalobos also stated his intention to assist the doctors appearing before the Licensing Board.
Physician Correctional holds a contract with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for the provision of medical services to inmates.
“It is unfortunate that Senator José Vargas Vidot chose to utilize his office to gain political attention rather than pursue the truth,” Villalobos remarked in a written statement. “The exploitation of power, slander, deceit, and falsehoods could not succeed. The truth emerged above the personal agendas of Senator Vargas Vidot and Mr. Manuel Quilinchini.”
Villalobos asserted that during the public hearing aimed at discussing potential amendments to Law 25, “Vargas Vidot issued severe criticisms of Physician Correctional and its physicians without any substantiating evidence or data.”
He continued, stating that he “will back the doctors throughout the ongoing process, as we examined the documentation thoroughly, unlike UtiCorp, and we trust that their assessment was appropriate,” Villalobos declared. “The findings from both their internal inquiry and that of the Department of Justice reinforce our commitment to delivering responsible healthcare, consistently guided by ethical standards.”
The Department of Justice has referred the doctors who assessed Ávila Vázquez’s situation to the Puerto Rico Medical Licensing and Disciplinary Board, believing they did not adhere to Regulation 7818. Villalobos contended that prosecutors lack the clinical expertise to make such a determination.
“We are assured that the physicians will succeed in any proceeding,” he stated. “I am confident that they operated within the expectations of medical standards and adhered to all legal requirements. Furthermore, we must recognize that the Justice system does not have the clinical personnel necessary to evaluate whether the doctors followed established protocols. The referral does not surprise us, nor should it cause concern for the doctors involved.”
Ávila Vázquez, aged 53, confessed to murdering his partner Ivette Joan Meléndez Vega, aged 56, earlier this year and disposing of her body in Manatí. He had received early release the previous year on medical grounds. Investigations revealed that Ávila Vázquez, who was serving time for a murder from 2005, had pretended to be paralyzed to qualify for early release under a program for inmates with terminal illnesses.
Since then, the Corrections and Rehabilitation Department has faced backlash for permitting his release.
In August, Ávila Vázquez was sentenced to 102 years in prison for the stabbing death of Meléndez Vega in April.
