Owner of "La Morenita" faces sanctions for illegal practice

IN AURORA | Health authorities’ sanction “La Morenita” for selling regulated medicines without a prescription. (Photo/Twitter)

COLORADO MEDICAL BOARD ISSUES AN ORDER OF “CEASE AND DESIST” THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE IN VIOLATION OF STATE HEALTH REGULATION.

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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The Colorado State Medical Board required the owners of the Mexican product store, “La Morenita”, to stop practicing “medicine without a license”. The authorities warned the owner of “La Morenita” that they would permanently close the store, in the next few days, after detecting that different store customers were diagnosed, treated, and medicated in that place.

The determination of the medical board is due to a case of a store client. A citizen, identified as Patient A, arrived at a hospital emergency room in the Denver metropolitan area in serious condition. In primary care, physicians determined that Patient A had received a shot of penicillin. This medicine had been applied in “La Morenita”, located in Aurora since September 1999.

The investigators’ report provided more details about the case of Patient A. Between October and November 2022, Patient A would have received three doses of penicillin. His arrival at the emergency room was necessary after Patient A received the third dose. The document from the Medical Board points out that the mother of Patient A indicated that her son had received health services at La Morenita “for a long time.”

The determination of the medical board is due to a case of a store client. “La Morenita” enfrenta cierre venta de medicamentos sin receta

Owner of “La Morenita” faces sanctions for illegal practice of medicine

Cease and desist order

Colorado Medical Board investigators also found that “credible evidence exists” that the store owner, 59-year-old Martín Román Jaquez, “practiced medicine without the required license,” creating “an imminent threat to health and safety of the public” by promising “treatment for all diseases”. The medical board sent Román Jaquez last December a “cease and desist order” in this practice that is at odds with the law.

This warning from the authorities could lead to the cancellation of the operating permit for “La Morenita”. Medicines are sold in this store, and it also has a section for the sale of meat and dry goods. At the same time, food is prepared for sale in that commercial premises. In June 2022, “La Morenita” was chosen by the local magazine 5280 Magazine as one of the best taco shops in the area.

The official document reveals that Jaquez, and presumably his employees, sold medicines that require a prescription. The investigators found 345 transactions for the sale of regulated drugs without the presence of medical prescriptions. In addition, medical supplies such as gloves, syringes, and bandages were kept in the store. These are supplies commonly used in the treatment of patients.

Will there be criminal prosecution?

The authorities let it be known that the investigation of this case continues. At the close of this edition, it is unknown if Román Jaquez exercised his right to appeal the cease and desist order or his right to request a hearing before the Medical Board to explain his situation. At the same time, the Medical Board has the authority to refer the case to the local court or to order the definitive closure of the business; but they did not report what his next action would be.