Madrid Officials Summoned Over COVID-19 Nursing Home Deaths

Madrid Court Investigates Pandemic Nursing Home Protocols A Madrid court has summoned two former high-ranking officials from the Community of Madrid, Carlos Mur and Francisco Javier Martínez Peromingo, to appear as part of an investigation into their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region's nursing homes. The investigation centers on protocols implemented during the early stages of the pandemic that allegedly prevented the transfer of many sick residents to hospitals. According to court documents, these protocols prioritized factors such as mobility and cognitive ability, leading to delays in critical care and potentially contributing to increased mortality. "These protocols were clearly inadequate and resulted in unnecessary suffering and death," stated a spokesperson for Marea de Residencias, an organization representing families of victims. The court's decision to reopen the case, initially archived nearly three years ago, follows a collective complaint filed by 109 relatives of victims, coordinated by Marea de Residencias and 7291: Verdad y Justicia. The Fiscalía Provincial de Madrid supported the reopening of the case in April, citing new evidence and the severity of the allegations. Mur, the director of Sociosanitaria Coordination at the start of the pandemic, signed a protocol that blocked hospital transfers. Martínez Peromingo, his successor, is also implicated in the creation and implementation of these protocols. The two are expected to appear in court on Monday. The families of the victims are hoping for justice and accountability for the alleged failures in the care of their loved ones during a time of crisis.