Maverick County Hospital District Board Chairman Allegedly Used District-Owned Insulin Pens without being a Patient of District’s Diabetes Self-Management Program
By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2019
The Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors discussed at their regular board meeting held on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, Board Chairman Jesus Casas’s alleged use of District-owned insulin pens for his own personal use without being a patient of the District’s Self-Management Diabetes Program and without a prescription from a District physician or authorized individual.
Hospital District Board member Adolfo “Fito” Olivares raised a serious issue regarding Board Chairman Jesus Casas’s alleged use of District-owned insulin pens from its Diabetes Self-Management Program for personal use without being a patient of the the District’s Diabetes Self-Management Program and without a prescription from a District physician or Diabetes Program Director, possibly placing the Hospital District, the Diabetes Self-Management Program and Casas in a potentially “very dangerous” liability issue should Casas had gotten ill from use of the District’s Diabetes Self-Management Program’s insulin pens without authorization. Olivares noted that these insulin pens need to be prescribed by a Doctor or authorized individual.
According to Board member Olivares, Board Chairman Casas requested Hospital District staff to go get him an insulin pen from the District’s Diabetes Self-Management Program, apparently one or more times, and applied the insulin medication upon himself. Olivares stated that he wanted to make it clear that this situation was a “very dangerous” thing should something had happened to Casas.
Olivares stated that once Board Chairman Casas was notified of this serious situation by the District’s former Chief Executive Officer Terri Patlan-Contreras, Casas ceased to continue the alleged use of District insulin pens to control his diabetes and began using his own insulin from home. Olivares noted that Board Chairman Casas allegedly applied the District-owned insulin pens upon himself, placing the District in a potentially “very dangerous” liability situation should something had happened to Casas.
Olivares stated that the Hospital District staff whom were requested by Board Chairman Casas to got get him the insulin pens from the District’s Diabetes Self-Management Program felt intimidated. Olivares noted that this situation should not occur again and that he was glad that Board Chairman Casas had ceased using District-owned insulin pens. Olivares asked if it is legal for the District’s Diabetes Self-Management Program to store or keep Casas’s personal medications at the District.
Acting Hospital District Director Alma Martinez noted that she had spoken with the District’s Diabetes Self-Management Program Director and that this was not occurring anymore. Martinez noted that former CEO Terri Patlan-Contreras wrote a report and submitted it to former General Counsel Alex Fuller advising him of the situation. Coincidentally, both former CEO Terri Contreras-Patlan and General Counsel Alex Fuller were terminated by a majority of the Board at a special meeting held on January 3, 2019 on a 3-1 vote with Casas, Robinson, and Valdez in favor and Farias in opposition. Olivares was not present at the January 3rd special meeting.
Board member Juan Manuel Farias raised the question if the Hospital District needed to self-report the situation or incident to someone because it may place the Hospital District or the District’s Diabetes Self-Management Program in jeopardy. Board member Farias asked Acting Hospital District Director Alma Martinez if the insulin pens were considered a controlled substance, which she answered “yes, they are.” Board member Farias noted that Board Chairman Casas also needed to understand that he had placed staff members’ well-being and jobs in jeopardy.
Acting District Director Alma Martinez advised Farias that once former CEO Terri Patlan-Contreras advised Board Chairman Casas of this situation that Casas subsequently became a patient of the District’s Diabetes Self-Management Program.
Board Vice-President Rebecca “Becky” Robinson stated that any staff member who gave the insulin pens to Board Chairman Casas, at his request, should suffer the consequences. Board Vice-President Robinson advised the Board that since nothing happened from this situation that the Board should move on with its agenda, which was echoed by Acting District Director Martinez.
Board Secretary-Treasurer Aaron Valdez was present at the January 29th meeting but remained silent during the discussion of this serious issue raised by Board member Olivares. Board Chairman Jesus Casas was not present at this meeting.
It remains to be determined whether the Hospital District Board of Directors will take any action to avoid this type of situation in the future or whether any governmental funding authority may take action against the Hospital District, the Diabetes Self-Management Program, or any individuals as a result of these allegations.
