The Mexican health clinic in Rosarito where Coretta Scott King died has been closed. Mexican immigration officials say many of the 20 American patients did not have proper visas. Further, Baja California health officials say the clinic was not registered to provide medical services.
Mexican authorities have ordered all patients to be removed from the clinic by Saturday.
Liza Davis is spokeswoman for the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana.
Davis: "We've had our officers there, essentially making sure that patients who need help returning to the United States and need help finding new medical facilities get access to that help; explaining them their rights, making sure they're informed about what the situation is."
Davis says none of the patients are in serious enough condition that vacating the clinic will cause major hardship.
Coretta Scott King's death focused attention on the safety of alternative medical clinics throughout Mexico.
But Davis says problems with such facilities are not uncommon.
Davis: "In the last 18 months to two years, the government of Mexico has closed a number of rehab and behavioral modification clinics. In fact, we returned over 600 American teenagers to the U.S. after one facility was closed last year."
Mexican officials say the clinic where King died billed itself as a hotel and spa. But they say they found unlicensed medical equipment there. Immigration officials say all U.S. citizens who stay in Mexico longer than 72-hours must have tourist visas.
