Barely twelve minutes after the death, the victim’s relatives received a call from a doctor at the Gillician hospital announcing the sad news. The cause of death was also revealed and the hospital establishment appeared to be responsible. “We explained to the deceased’s children that there had been a problem when connecting the catheter and the alarm on the device had not worked. The two doctors who then met my clients even encouraged them to take legal action, because according to them the hospital was responsible.”explains Mr. Donatangelo, civil party.
This Monday afternoon, before the 6th chamber of the Charleroi criminal court, Isabelle must defend herself against involuntary manslaughter due to lack of foresight or precaution on the part of the patient. Now retired, the sixty-year-old who worked for fifteen years in the dialysis department is the last person to have taken care of connecting the victim to the machine. The defendant reiterates her position: no error was made on her part.
An acquittal required
For the substitute Signor, the observation is quite simple. On the one hand, a technical problem is mentioned. On the other, human error is also considered. None of the theories can be excluded. Which therefore means that a doubt exists and that it must benefit Isabelle. An acquittal is requested by the prosecution, which had already requested a dismissal for the accused before the council chamber.
Mr. Preumont, for the defense, draws the same conclusion. Judgment in a month.
