Fresenius in Miami area (Hialeah actually)

Family blames water at clinic for father's critical condition

Related Links
Video: Poisoned water
HIALEAH, Fla. (WSVN) -- A family is angry at a South Florida clinic, blaming the water for their father's critical condition.

According to family members of Tony Estevez, Fresenious Medical Care of Hialeah withheld vital information from the family that is slowly killing their father.

According to his daughter, Noemy Estevez, she can hardly comprehend how they got to this point, after only three weeks ago, her father was exercising with her. Estevez is now recovering from a pentuple bypass. The facility provides dialysis for patients.

Noemy said she continued asked Tony's medical care in Hialeah, if something was wrong. "We continually contacted the center, and I feel that we were continually told nothing out of the ordinary is going on at the center," said the daughter.

Only after Tony had a heart attack did the center admitted there was a problem. Fresenious Medical care of Hialeah told Seven News on Wednesday: "Abnormal conditions in the facility's water system resulting in the presence of chloramine were identified... The abnormal conditions were corrected within 24 hours..."

Noemy Estevez claimed this was all new information, because she always asked the center if there was something wrong. "I just feel that statement in particular does not address us, because at no point were we notified. Contrary to that we notified them," she said

Last month, Tony's family saw a week long of spiral weakness and not eating. "While chloramine or chlorine is added to city water to protect the rest of us from bacteria, it kills red blood cells in patients that are on dialysis," said Robert Boyers the Family's Attorney. "The cover-up is criminal, because in this case the cover-up caused the harm," he added.

Fresenious most recent government inspection last year, came up clean. But in the inspection prior, State Health Regulator cited the clinic twice because water was not adequately purified, the medical director did not have staff privileges at Palmetto General, and patients were dissatisfied with doctor's visits and the amount of contact with their doctor.

The inspector even stated, "This is an accident waiting to happen," said Renee Fletcher.

Estevez remains in critical condition at the clinic.