Doctors found guilty in Spain of homicide by reckless negligence after a boy died after visiting five emergency rooms over four days.

Two doctors were found guilty of reckless homicide following the death of an eight-year old boy in Petrer province in Alicante in 2020. The boy died from peritonitis.

Aitor, a young boy named, visited the emergency room at Petrer Health Centre five times in just four days.

The Alicante Criminal Court ruled that the medics were grossly negligent, and guilty of malpractice.

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The Petrer doctor received a year-long prison sentence and was banned from practicing medicine for three years.

The pediatrician of Elda General Hospital was sentenced to two years in prison and six months ban.

The Alicante judge also awarded compensation worth around €145,000 to Aitor’s relatives which will be paid by insurers Berkshire Hathaway on behalf of the Valencian Health Ministry.

You can appeal the verdicts and sentences.

Aitor passed away in October 2020 due to complications from acute appendicitis. According to the court his death would have been prevented if the medical response was different.

During a series ER visits, the court found that the patient had not taken blood and ultrasound tests as well as measuring his blood-pressure and heart rate.

The court verdict stated that: “The doctors didn’t diagnose acute appendicitis for the minor. This resulted in an infection in his digestive tract, which originated in the cecum. It then developed into peritonitis which eventually led to complications and led to his demise.”

The jury heard testimony from forensic specialists and a medical expert who was impartial.

A second witness described to the court the events that took place in the Elda Hospital ER.

“When I arrived, I found the boy in his wheelchair who was writhing with pain.”

She continued, “The child was very sick. He was complaining and holding his stomach.”