The Puerto Rico Court of Appeals recently ruled against Hospital Español Auxilio Mutuo in a negligence case involving a patient who lost a kidney due to alleged medical negligence. The court's decision, issued on June 29, 2026, means that the hospital will continue facing claims from Nohemy Rueda Celis and Raúl Morales Ducret, who allege that the hospital's failure to inform them about a serious medical condition led to significant harm. This ruling is significant as it allows the case to proceed, potentially holding the hospital accountable for the actions of its medical staff.

The case began when Rueda Celis visited the emergency room of Hospital Auxilio Mutuo on September 22, 2017. During her visit, a CT scan revealed a suspicious lesion on her kidney. However, Rueda Celis claims she was not informed about the results of the scan and was discharged with pain medication. It was not until two years later, on October 8, 2019, that she returned to the hospital with the same symptoms, only to find that the lesion had grown significantly, leading to the surgical removal of her right kidney.

Rueda Celis and Morales Ducret filed a lawsuit against the hospital and several doctors, including Dr. Oscar Marrero Ortiz and Dr. Rafael Vicens Rodríguez, alleging medical malpractice. They claimed that the hospital was responsible for the negligence of its medical staff, who failed to provide necessary information and treatment. The case was filed as civil number SJ2022CV00451 in the San Juan Superior Court.

Initially, the case saw various procedural developments, including the dismissal of claims against the two doctors in May 2022. The hospital later sought a summary judgment, arguing that the dismissal of the doctors effectively extinguished the claims against the hospital itself. However, the court found that the hospital could still be held liable for the actions of its staff, even without a separate expert opinion directly implicating the institution.

On April 23, 2026, the San Juan Superior Court ruled against the hospital's request for summary judgment, stating, "The responsibility of the hospital for the acts or omissions of the physicians assigned to the patient in the Emergency Room does not automatically disappear simply because there is no separate expert opinion directed specifically against the institution." The court emphasized that if it could be proven at trial that the doctors deviated from good medical practice and that this caused the damages claimed, the hospital could be held responsible.

Following this ruling, the hospital sought a review by the Court of Appeals, arguing that the lower court had erred in its conclusions. However, the Court of Appeals, led by Judge Trigo Ferraiuoli, ultimately denied the hospital's request for certiorari, stating that there were no grounds to intervene with the lower court's decision. The court noted that the absence of a separate expert opinion did not negate the potential for the hospital's liability.

This ruling has significant implications for the ongoing case. It allows Rueda Celis and Morales Ducret to continue pursuing their claims against the hospital, which could face substantial financial consequences if found liable. The decision also reinforces the principle that hospitals can be held accountable for the actions of their staff, even when individual medical professionals are not found liable.

Going forward, this case will continue to progress through the courts. The hospital may still have options for appeal, but the denial of the certiorari means that the case will return to the lower court for further proceedings. The outcome of this case could set important precedents regarding hospital liability and patient rights in Puerto Rico.

Details were not available in the court filing regarding any potential related cases or further appeals that may be pending. However, the implications of this ruling could influence similar cases in the future, as it highlights the responsibilities of healthcare institutions in ensuring patient safety and proper communication regarding medical conditions.