Judge Ramón Horacio González ordered that plastic surgeon Edgar Contreras and cardiologist Chanoc Mieses be kept in prison. They are accused of involuntary homicide in the case of journalist Isabel Vargas. His brother, Juan Francisco Contreras and surgeon Juana Pimentel, were released on a RD$1 million peso bail. They were banned from practicing medicine until the case is heard. The Contreras brothers are being tried for negligence in the cases of deceased Puerto Rican Dhelmalys Ríos and Dominican Isabel Vargas, as well as Carmen Villanueva, who suffers from health problems after a body reduction procedure. Dominican legislation is very lenient with medical malpractice. If they are found guilty, they face a sentence of six days to two months in prison and a fine of up to RD$50 pesos. In their case, the worse that could happen is that they be banned from practicing medicine. They are in jail at the remodeled Palacio de la Justicia.
