Aitor García was 23 years old when he died in January 2018. He lived in Navalcarnero, in his parents’ house, like so many other young people who have not yet been able to emancipate themselves in this Spain in which they live. He was always described as a good, healthy athlete, an automotive engineer, who, according to those who knew him well, neither drank nor smoked. But on January 14, 2018, he died of a pulmonary embolism, apparently caused by pulmonary thromboembolism, which ultimately led to his death.
That January 14, 2018, at 11:56 a.m., his family, specifically Aitor’s mother, called 112, the emergency service number of the Community of Madrid – SUMMA, vehemently stating that her son was drowning. At that first moment, Juan Antonio Martín, the doctor who answered the call, asked, not accepting the mother’s words, to speak with the young man, who responded, not without all the difficulties in the world, due to what was happening to him. I can’t, I’m drowning. The doctor, far from showing a minimum of empathy, snapped at poor Aitor Well, he breathes perfectly, eh! and hung up.
Later, in a second call at 12:04 noon, when Aitor was no longer breathing normally, it began, the resuscitation protocol by telephone, telling parents what they should dowhile the ambulance was sent. This ICU medical ambulance arrived at 12:27, when Aitor had already been without breathing for several minutes.
Before arriving at the Rey Juan Carlos Hospital, Aitor suffered two cardio-respiratory arrests. After being admitted to the emergency room, he was intubated and died five days later.
The family, specifically his parents, denounced, especially the doctor Juan Antonio Martín, and the SUMMA for not having taken good care of their son from the beginning, for not having considered as serious case the call and not having activated the sending of the medicalized ICU from the first moment, in addition to having received degrading or inhuman treatment from the doctor on the first call.
The health administration, as it always does in these cases, has been giving them silence in response, they even went so far as to offer the family €10,000 in compensation if they forgot about the incident and let the matter go.
Today, just a few days ago, 7 years and more have passed since the events, A Madrid court has handed down a sentence where the doctor Juan Antonio Martín is sentenced to two years in prison, four years of disqualification and the payment of compensation. Analyzing this sentence, it is clearly seen that for justice, human life does not have the same bias whether it is taken by a common criminal or by a doctor. Who has not even had words of apology towards the family.
Carmen and her husband, Aitor’s parents, have had obstacles put in place over the years, until they ended up getting the recording of said call. The 112 service has been dragging its feet, until the recording was finally available (seven years of asking for justice), where what the family claimed was clearly demonstrated.
This call can be heard in its entirety on the Antena 3 (Spain) television link that is published in the bibliography.
Medical negligence is a shadowy issue that is permanently hidden from the public. Doctors are given power over life and death. Many of them (not all, as in any society) are subject to the vagaries of the world, they take drugs, smoke, drink, have depression, and a long etcetera that does not make them immune to the mistakes they make. The only problem is that their mistakes cause deaths. Aitor’s case is good proof.
If you know of any case of medical or psychiatric negligence, do not hesitate to contact me at noticiasypalabras@gmail.com
We acknowledge The European Times for the information.
