Mónica García, a Cuban woman who was arrested a few days ago in Miami alongside her daughter for operating an unlicensed aesthetic surgery recovery center and for the improper handling of medical waste in another residence in Miami-Dade, denies the allegations and explains what happened.
Mónica García acknowledges that she previously operated without a license, but insists that this time Oasis Retreat -the name of the center- had the necessary permits.
Nevertheless, a chain of misfortunes led the police to discover the patients in a residence that was not licensed.
“About two years ago, at that time we did not have the possibility of obtaining the license,” he said to Telemundo 51 while explaining the circumstances of the previous arrest.
However, following a pipe failure at the facility, it was forced to evacuate the patients and relocate them to another licensed center.
Subsequently, another incident involving a transformer from the electric company FPL led her to relocate them yet again, this time to the home that was raided by the police, which she acknowledges was not licensed, although she claims it was set up with trained personnel.
“What we really want is to work, to not be seen as criminals,” she lamented.
The regulatory vacuum
Mónica García says that she is not against the regulation of these types of centers.
However, she complains that the current regulations require them to meet the standards of an assisted living facility, not a short-term recovery site, something she believes needs its own regulation due to the high demand for this type of service.
“This is a need we have, Miami, what is Dade County, is the capital of cosmetic surgery in the U.S., and all we do is provide support,” he defends.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recognizes Miami as the capital of aesthetic surgery in the U.S., but changing the regulations for recovery centers is not so straightforward, as it falls under state legislation.
The authorities, for their part, remain cautious towards the Cuban's arguments, as she was arrested two years ago in the same house on similar charges.
“This person has been arrested before and has been charged for the same reason we are here today,” noted Detective Ángel Rodríguez, spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, during the operation.
Meanwhile, Mónica and her daughter are facing charges and the decision of the State Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), which revoked the provisional license of Oasis Retreat, leaving the center without authorization to operate.
The provisional license had been granted due to Laura García's purchase of the business from a previous owner who did have authorization. However, the AHCA ultimately rejected granting her a permanent license, arguing that the center did not pass the state inspections.
The García family is in the process of appealing this decision.
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