A doctor accused of negligence in the death of a toddler has been fully acquitted by a court in Lanzarote, with the judge ruling there was no evidence his actions contributed to the child’s death.
The case centred on the tragic death of a 19-month-old girl who was treated at the emergency department of José Molina Orosa Hospital in Arrecife in December 2019. The girl, who was of Polish nationality and living on the island with her family, died two days after being discharged from hospital.
No Wrongdoing Found
The judge at Criminal Court No. 1 in Arrecife concluded the doctor had acted properly and dismissed claims he had shown negligence or failed to follow standard medical procedures.
The court found no grounds for the charges of involuntary manslaughter. The doctor had faced up to four years in prison and a six-year ban from practising medicine if convicted.
In the ruling, the judge said it had not been proven that further medical tests, such as X-rays or bloodwork, would have prevented the child’s death.
Timeline of Events
The little girl was first seen at a local health centre in Playa Blanca on the morning of 26th December 2019, suffering from a cough and fever. She was referred to hospital, where the now-acquitted doctor diagnosed her with acute bronchitis.
After being treated with fever-reducing medication, she was discharged later that evening.
But her condition deteriorated. She was taken back to the health centre the following day and diagnosed with a serious respiratory infection. Despite an urgent transfer back to hospital, she died in the early hours of 28th December.
The post-mortem revealed she died from a severe pneumonia caused by a viral infection.
Judge: Doctor Followed Procedure
The court accepted expert testimony which confirmed the doctor’s decision to discharge the child was based on standard clinical judgement at the time. When she left hospital, her fever had subsided and respiratory symptoms had improved.
The judge ruled the doctor’s actions did not deviate from accepted medical practice and said there was no evidence his decisions had increased the risk to the child’s life.
The verdict brings an end to the legal case, which had been closely followed in the Canary Islands. While the court has cleared the doctor, the child’s death remains a deeply painful memory for those involved.
