Attorney General Ken Paxton today filed a lawsuit against Clinica Hispana in La Porte, Texas, which has both misrepresented the character of its COVID-19 testing as well as its failure to secure patients’ sensitive personal information. Clinica Hispana claims its tests can diagnose an active infection, but the type of tests used by the clinic are not approved for such a use.
“I will not allow anyone or any business to fraudulently represent COVID testing in our communities. Patients must be assured that the tests they take and results they receive are accurate and their personal information will be protected,” said Attorney General Paxton. “We look forward to litigation in this case and will continue working diligently to ensure Texans receive the testing and potentially life-saving treatment they need.”
An Office of the Attorney General investigation discovered that Clinica Hispana was giving people antibody tests and telling them that it would diagnose an infection, when such test cannot diagnose an active infection. In addition to conducting fraudulent tests, Clinica Hispana also threw away test results using an unsecured dumpster behind the clinic, which directly violates Texas identity theft laws.
Texans who believe they may have been misled as to the type, results or costs of a COVID 19 test can file a complaint by calling the attorney general’s Consumer Protection Hotline toll-free at (800) 621-0508, emailing [email protected], or filing a complaint online at https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/cpd/file-a-consumer-complaint.
Find information on where to get a COVID-19 test on the Department of State Health Services website here: https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus/testing.aspx
Read a copy of the petition here.
Read a copy of the TRO here.