New Fatality in Panama
Mass Poisoning
The reported death of a
60 year old man has
brought the number of
people proven killed,
after taking medicine
contaminated with an
industrial substance in
Panama, to 102.
The Special Superior
Attorney General's
Office announced that
Benito Coronado
Hernandez died last week
at the Saint Thomas
Hospital in Panama City.
Attorney General Dimas
Guevara said his office
is investigating 540
reports related to the
tainted medicine,
including 386 deaths.
However, the Ministry of
Health estimates 120
people affected by
taking drugs containing
dietilenglicol,
including 101 dead and
19 with irreversible
damages.
Last month the
Government began paying
a $30,000 compensation
for each victim to
families of this group.
The crisis began October
2, when health
authorities decreed an
epidemiological alert
after the deaths of
several people for
causes unknown at the
time.
The scandal led to
dismissal and arrest of
director of the Social
Security Fund, Rene
Luciani, as well as his
two predecessors, Juan
Jovane and Rolando
Villalaz.
The three were later
released and sent home
under precautionary
measures.
However, a few days ago
the Supreme Court ruled
the measures against
Luciani illegal, and he
returned to his post. |
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