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Dr. Miguel Ángel Ruano Sánchez, a Cuban specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation exiled in Colombia, broke his silence this Wednesday to respond emphatically to the accusations from the Cuban Society of Physical Medicine, which allege that he falsified his curriculum and engaged in inappropriate conduct during a medical event in 2008.
In a message filled with indignation, Ruano denied the allegations and claimed that the Cuban regime is resorting to a "media lynching" against him for political reasons.
Beware dictators, as desperation may not take you that far, wrote the doctor in a public statement shared on social media.
The official source accuses him of lying about studies conducted in South Korea, England, and the United States, and of using his social media to "lie, coerce, threaten, and defame" in the context of the case of the boy Damir Ortiz Ramírez, a humanitarian campaign in which Ruano has been directly involved.
The physician responded, recalling that he had already been subject to an administrative sanction in the past: “According to you, I was barred from practicing medicine in Cuba for being a ‘fraud’ (falsifying a curriculum), among other ‘misdeeds’”, he pointed out.
Based on this precedent, the exiled doctor argued that publicly exposing those facts again, without them being linked to new proceedings or the execution of the already imposed sanction, constitutes a serious violation of his rights.
If they mention my name today on the news and show a single 'little proof' of what they claim to have, whether fabricated or not, they will be committing a serious offense against my honor, he warned.
Ruano also emphasized that he holds Colombian nationality and that, therefore, the Cuban government has no jurisdiction outside the Island.
I am a Colombian national lawyer, do not forget that, he emphasized, underscoring his willingness to take legal action if the smear campaigns against him continue.
One of the central points of their defense is the legal principle of “non bis in idem”, which states that no one can be tried or punished twice for the same facts.
A definitive and executed ruling or administrative measure prevents the initiation of a new administrative process or public exhibition for the same fact, he explained.
The doctor insisted that any current public exposure, if not related to new facts or the execution of the original sanction, could be considered a violation of his right to privacy and the presumption of innocence.
The public exposure with the intention of discrediting or media lynching, if not justified by the enforcement of the sentence, could be considered a violation of my fundamental rights, he stated.
He also referred to the international protection of human rights and the legal consequences of disclosing personal data or evidence from cases that have already been judged without consent.
"If photos, audio recordings, alleged written evidence, or even just publicly spoken words are published without the consent of the involved party, this could be a violation of privacy and is punishable under international law," he stated.
I am waiting for you, declared the doctor, in a clear legal warning to the Cuban regime.
“Do not give me more reasons to initiate an international legal process against the Cuban misgovernment. Or yes, go ahead, I am waiting for you”, he concluded.
Ruano has been one of the most vocal advocates in denouncing the collapse of the Cuban healthcare system. In his intervention on the program Las Mañanas de CiberCuba in 2021, he highlighted the worsening of the health crisis, the shortage of medications, the lack of beds in intensive care units, and the scarcity of oxygen during the COVID-19 pandemic, a situation that, according to him, caused thousands of preventable deaths.
Since his exile, he has harshly criticized that while the regime exports doctors to other countries as part of a propaganda strategy, the Cuban population is suffering from an unprecedented health emergency.
Amid this scenario, his involvement in humanitarian campaigns such as that of the boy Damir Ortiz has made him an uncomfortable figure for the government.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Case of Doctor Miguel Ángel Ruano and the Cuban Regime
Why does the Cuban regime accuse Dr. Miguel Ángel Ruano of falsifying his resume?
The Cuban regime accuses Dr. Ruano of falsifying his resume and of engaging in improper conduct at a medical event in 2008. However, Ruano contends that these accusations are part of a "media lynching" for political reasons, due to his critical stance on the Cuban healthcare system and his involvement in humanitarian campaigns such as that of the child Damir Ortiz.
What is the legal principle of "non bis in idem" mentioned by Dr. Ruano?
The principle of "non bis in idem" establishes that a person cannot be tried or sanctioned twice for the same facts. Dr. Ruano argues that the current accusations from the regime violate this principle, as they pertain to actions for which he has already been sanctioned before, and he believes that this constitutes a violation of his fundamental rights.
How has Doctor Miguel Ángel Ruano responded to the accusations from the Cuban government?
The Doctor Ruano has denied the accusations against him and has reported that the Cuban regime is conducting a smear campaign for political reasons. He has emphasized that he holds Colombian nationality and that the Cuban government has no jurisdiction over him outside of Cuba, in addition to expressing his willingness to take legal action should the attacks continue.
What is Dr. Ruano's connection to the case of the boy Damir Ortiz?
Doctor Ruano has been directly involved in the humanitarian campaign to help the child Damir Ortiz, who suffers from serious health issues. His participation in this campaign has contributed to his notoriety and made him an uncomfortable figure for the Cuban regime, which accuses him of lying and defaming Cuban doctors related to the child's case.
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