Catania prosecutors have
placed 12 doctors from the city hospital's obstetrical and
gynaecological department under investigation in the case of a
woman who died at the weekend after a miscarriage, judicial
sources said Thursday.
They are suspected of multiple manslaughter in the death of
Valentina Milluzzo, 32, and the twin babies she was carrying.
Sources said the move was a formality following a complaint
from the woman's family.
The suspects are all the department's staff excluding head
surgeon Paolo Scollo and his assistant Emilio Lomeo, who were
absent.
Catania prosecutors said earlier they had ascertained that
the doctor who allegedly refused to intervene was not registered
as a conscientious objector in the medical files.
Milluzzo died on October 16 at Catania's Cannizzaro
hospital, where she had been for 17 days following complications
in the 19th week of pregnancy with twins.
The woman's family alleged that the doctor refused to
intervene and remove the fetuses following a respiratory crisis
because he was a conscientious objector who refused to take part
in abortions.
The woman was pregnant following assisted-fertility
treatment as another health centre.
Health ministry inspectors are expected to arrive at
Cannizzaro hospital later on Thursday.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
