According to Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), another disabled patient on the state’s Developmental Disabilities Waiver (DD Waiver) has passed away.
NMDOH wrote in a press release, “The client reportedly fell, was treated at a hospital for a head injury and subsequently died on June 17, 2023. The department’s Division of Health Improvement continues to investigate this case for any instances of abuse, neglect and exploitation in relation to the care provided to this client.”
“The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating this matter. In an abundance of caution the DOH is also referring this case to the Attorney General’s Office for further review and investigation.”
The Department added, “The individual received an in-person wellness check on April 4, 2023, and appeared healthy without evidence of abuse or neglect when the state conducted in-person wellness checks on all individuals being cared for under the state’s Developmental Disabilities Waiver (DD Waiver) programs.”
However, the revelation of the April wellness check raises more questions.
In May, a 38-year-old disabled woman, Mary Melero, died due to constant physical, emotional, and sexual torture for years under her two caregivers. She was also on the state’s DD Waiver, and her abusive caregivers raked in $250,000 of taxpayer money.
At the time, the NMDOH wrote on May 18, 2023, “This shocking case prompted DOH to conduct and complete in-person wellness checks on all individuals being cared for under the state’s Developmental Disabilities Waiver (DD Waiver) programs to ensure they are in good health and being well cared for by providers.”
So, if NMDOH did, indeed, conduct wellness checks in May, why is the state now only noting the wellness check from early April?
After Ms. Melero’s death caused by her caregivers’ torture, NMDOH wrote, “State leadership and the DOH also immediately established what is now an ongoing independent, third-party investigation evaluating both the agency’s Developmental Disabilities Support Division and the Division of Health Improvement procedures to identify systemic flaws that allowed the alleged incidents to occur.”
The Department repeated this claim verbatim, writing in the June 29, 2023, statement on the latest death, “State leadership and the DOH established what is now an ongoing independent, third-party investigation evaluating both the agency’s Developmental Disabilities Supports Division and the Division of Health Improvement procedures to identify systemic flaws and improve processes.”
While the complete details of the latest DD Waiver patient’s death are unknown, the state’s claims to have done wellness checks on “all individuals” after Ms. Melero’s tragic slaughter identify more problems with the NMDOH’s care for people with disabilities under state oversight and care.
Sad, sad, sad, I personally could not care for an individual unless it was a close family member. For a stranger to care for an individual they would have to be exceptional. With that being said, I know very few people that would fit into that category. My guess is the majority of the care takers do it for the cash and not for the care. Yes everyone needs an income, but caring for the sick or disabled for an income is not the way to go. There are stresses involved that most of us could not handle over the long hall. If the care taker has multiple individuals to care for that just compounds the stress. This stress leads to abuse or lack of care (which is abuse). Many folks will take the power from the individual and abuse the power. I would think month visits should be the minimum with out having to be scheduled. I would think family members would visit, they should be able to report abuse! anyway you look at it NM will be at the bottom rung of care when compared to other states. This is what happens in Marxist countries, the worst of the worst are in charge.
I took care of my mother. I thank god I did. This cruelty and department needs to be taken away from the state NOW!
In a state that values death over life, why should it surprise anyone that the aged and mentally disabled are allowed to die. They are allowed to live on the streets, they are allowed to refuse any help, and the quiet part is that the same folks who approve abortion also approved euthanasia. This also fits into the world view that there are too many humans and we should all die. Why do you think fentanyl is so cheap?
usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-05-03/u-s-deaths-due-to-fentanyl-nearly-quadrupled-in-5-years
I take care of my son that is autistic. That I take care of. Couldn’t image someone doing this to another Person. This is so heartbreaking.