Psychiatrist Testifies Ex-Madrid Health Chief Knew Nursing Home Plan Failed During COVID

Carlos Mur, a psychiatrist practising in Andorra and former senior health official in Madrid's regional government, has pointed to Enrique Ruiz Escudero, the former Community of Madrid health councillor, in testimony over deaths in nursing homes during COVID-19's first wave.

Mur, who previously led the mental health department at Andorra's Hospital de Meritxell, told the investigating judge that Escudero was aware the nursing home medicalisation programme was not working. He said triage protocols arose from a plan promoted by the health department itself. At the time, Mur served as director general responsible for healthcare oversight in residences.

In an email dated 20 March 2020, copied to Escudero and other top officials, Mur warned that treating patients within geriatric centres "was not feasible" without adequate medical reinforcements. He flagged the danger of "a significant number of preventable deaths."

Mur testified for more than an hour via videoconference before Madrid's Court of Instruction No. 37. This was his second appearance as an investigated party in one of numerous cases across Madrid courts, stemming from family complaints about fatalities in elderly care facilities during the crisis's early phase.

Associations representing victims' families described Mur's account as the strongest evidence so far of possible political accountability for Escudero, who faces no charges and holds senatorial immunity, meaning any proceedings against him would require Supreme Court involvement. The families' lawyers have not yet formally requested his implication.