Victims of Contaminated Syrup Appeal to the Ombudsman's Office

A group of people affected by the ingestion of syrup contaminated with diethylene glycol went to the Ombudsman's Office, accompanied by their legal representative, so that this entity can take the necessary steps due to the lack of responses to their lawsuits. In this sense, it was recalled that the Ombudsman's Office is part of the commission for monitoring the victims of the contaminated syrup, where different requests are analyzed and addressed. “The Ombudsman's Office will continue to accompany the affected people, receiving their complaints and following up with the responsible institutions, with the aim of fully respecting and guaranteeing their human rights, as justice must be timely,” concluded de Gracia. In light of this situation, the Director of the Human Rights Protection Office of the Ombudsman's Office, Julio de Gracia, explained that although the institution does not have the competence to intervene in the processes being heard in the Judicial Branch, it can make known to the President of the Supreme Court what this group of people has stated regarding the delay in issuing rulings, which dates back to 2018, according to their legal representative. Several affected people denounced that they have not yet been officially certified as patients, a situation that prevents them from accessing the benefits established by law. He stressed that the respective investigations will be initiated through complaints regarding medical care, which must be comprehensive, including the functioning of the specialized toxicology center and the timely supply of the necessary medications to treat the health consequences faced by the victims.