Judicial authorities of Córdoba opened an investigation to determine the causes of the death of at least five babies reported between May and June last in the Maternal Neonatal Hospital of the provincial capital, a fact for which they continue several hypotheses, among them those of “malpractice and homicide”sources linked to the process reported today.
The Prosecutor of Instruction Raúl Garzón, who is in charge of the investigation, told local media that he is working on “a complaint about several deceased newborn babies”, which he considered an “extremely serious” situation.
At a press conference he gave this afternoon at the Courts II building, Garzón admitted that “there may be intentional causes or malpractice.” The case prompted the province’s Ministry of Health to issue a statement.
“In relation to the situation of the Neonatal Hospital it is reported that, after noticing a series of inconsistencies in the evolution of patients in this hospital, between March and June 2022, proceeded to collect data on your health care”, says the statement. He added that “Preventively, it was decided to remove the personnel possibly related to the events”. “In this way, observing adverse factors in common and/or very similar, those that do not coincide with the diagnosis and the characteristics of the mother and the newborn, an administrative investigation was initiated to clarify the facts and determine the possible cause and, if applicable, the effective attribution of responsibilities”, added the health portfolio.
In his turn, prosecutor Garzón pointed out that these are “specific cases in a precise time frame and it is obviously worrying”, although he stated that the provision of health in that hospital is normal these days. “We are investigating the causes for which these newborns died. Clinical histories and all the medical material were collected to determine the causes that led to the death of these babies”, reaffirmed the judicial official. Garzón said that they were events that occurred between the end of May and June and that, based on a complaint, progress was made in the investigation that is in full process and ongoing, with the immense seriousness that it represents.” “All the evidentiary material must be analyzed by the medical body specialized in all these issues of alleged malpractice, although we do not rule out, and what would certainly be impressive, the situation that these events could have been with intention,” Garzón added. .
In this sense, he maintained that work is being done on “several hypotheses”, among them that of “malpractice, homicide or negligence”, among other lines of investigation, such as the possibility that deaths have been caused by some “hospital virus”.
“Hypotheses such as complications of the vaccine, medication or medication status are ruled out because the same medication is administered in all hospitals. This is something very limited and very punctual, “said the prosecutor.
According to the complaint, the deaths occurred in the Maternal Neonatal Hospital “Dr. Ramón Carrillo”dependent on the provincial government, and so far no people have been charged, judicial sources reported.
Work is being carried out on “several hypotheses”, including “malpractice, homicide or negligence”, in addition to other lines of investigation such as the possibility that the deaths were caused by some “hospital virus”.
Among the first procedural measures, Garzón carried out a hospital break-in where he seized medical records of the deceased, among other documents considered useful for the investigation.
The prosecutor explained that in some cases the results of autopsies of the first deceased babieswhich are being analyzed by the body of specialized doctors.
Meanwhile, the Director of Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Health, Mariana Figueroaaffirmed that from the complaint and the opening of the judicial case that portfolio opened an internal administrative summary which, among other measures, includes the “preventive separation of employees” from the neonatal area.
Then it was found out that the head of the hospital was separated from her duties.
“We have noticed inconsistencies in health care in 13 newborn children, of which five have died”Mariana Figueroa
“We have noticed some inconsistencies in the deaths of newborns in the hospital, between March and June, because the normal thing is that when we are dealing with a healthy mother and a healthy baby, it is not usual for it to result in the death of a baby,” he told channel 12 of Cordoba Figueroa.
In this case “we have noticed inconsistencies in health care in 13 newborn children, of which five have died”, which led to the internal administrative investigation to determine possible criminal responsibilitiesadded the lawyer from the Ministry of Health.
On the other hand, it transpired that, based on the public status that took the information, it is not ruled out that other parents add new complaints about deaths in that period of time.
Meanwhile, the now former director of the Neonatal Hospital, Liliana Asis, told the press that “There are no people suspended in the health center, but there are people who are being investigated,” and clarified that “they are people who are active, who continue to work.” Lastly, Asis maintained that in addition to the investigation carried out by the Justice, “There is an administrative investigation.”
