Seven doctors to face charges in connection with child's death
Seven doctors are to be arraigned in court in connection with the death of a 26-month old girl at Mater Dei Hospital.
The child died in February two years ago.
The doctors were to have been arraigned this morning, but while six of them turned up in court, the seventh was not present as he is abroad. The court was told that he had not been formally notified.
Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona put off the case to next month and warned defence counsel that if the doctor was not present for the next sitting, he would issue an arrest warrant and the doctor would face the consequences.
The parents were also present in court.
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63 Comments
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John Azzopoardi
Jan 29th, 11:13
Now is is whole thing needed. Doctors have a job to do and 7 doctors not being where they are needed is detrimental to our society............we are talking about 7 doctos not one.
jere roughton
Jan 28th, 23:53
there should be some kind of legal board to see the cause of mistake or avoidable accident and from there advise the courts to proceed or not to take action and avoid embarrassment to the professionals there are no names but everyone at the hospital knows who and malta word travels at light speed we could avoid this if such board is formed or if there is one do your job
jere roughton
Jan 28th, 23:49
doctors are human and humans make mistakes i know that if i was in the parents shoes i would see different but this will not bring anyone back from there demise .if we keep this up doctors will be so nervous to operate etc and scared they will be sued we will end up with no docs at all just dentists or lab tecnitians they do there best and only are rewarded with grief from all give them a break
martin said
Jan 28th, 19:34
Can anybody mention any human being that throughout his career has not been responsible for a mistake, even if this unfortunate event might not be the case!
Victor Rodenas
Jan 28th, 20:02
If it was your son or daughter I am sure that you would reason differently.
G. Muscat
Jan 28th, 22:02
Agreed Mr. Said!
I have seen doctors perform at their best for 365 days a day - saving lives which would have been lost up to 4-5years ago!
m. borg (slm)
Jan 28th, 23:33
Are for real Mr Said?
Just thank the Lord it doesn't happen to you, a mistake almost cost my wife her life.
Charmaine Cortis
Jan 28th, 18:59
Do put yourself in the shoes of the parents who have lost their precious child and I am sure you will think twice before posting your comments!! Common people, politicians, policeman etc are named when they screw up...do doctors have to be treated differently??!! Name and shame so that other children will be saved!!
joseph green
Jan 28th, 18:21
So if I am to be arraigned in court for some offence , my name would be published , while these as they are doctors should not why ? Maybe because I am the man in the street.
twanny borg
Jan 28th, 17:24
Ma narax ghalfejn ghandhom jixxandru l-ismijiet la f'dan il-kaz u f'ebda kaz darba ghadhom mhux misjuba hatja. Pero forsi kellu jixxandar aktar informazzjoni kif gara l-kaz.
Mario Gauci
Jan 28th, 17:16
I agree with M. Fava, also one has to take into consideration the working hours of these life savers. 30 hour shifts are commonplace
Mario Fava
Jan 28th, 16:22
Whatever the outcome of this case, it is important to publish a list of patients saved by these doctors.
Mario Giuliano
Jan 28th, 19:17
@ Mario Fava
Prosit. A very valid comment. I am sure that none of them ever intend to harm any of their patients. Yes, it is unfortunate that this child died but unless gross negligence is proven their names should never be published and even then only the name/s of the guilty one/s should be published.
Mr C Galea
Jan 28th, 21:54
re Mario Giuliano and Mario Fava and indeed others here
It is always amusing how and why I find that the main(ly) way of thinking in Malta and the Maltese is that of "within the box" and it never seems to be directed outside it as well? Where does the root of all this come from?
Victor Rodenas
Jan 29th, 07:10
What if they kill your son at Mater Dei,....would you look at the ones they saved?
Carmel Garcia
Jan 28th, 16:05
The names should not be published even after they are found or not guilty.
joseph green
Jan 28th, 18:38
Put yourself instead of the parents of this 26 month year old , and then talk.
Nicholas Balzan
Jan 28th, 16:02
to all those who find it so easy to condemn, wouldn't it be more prudent and wait to see the outcome of the investigations instead of crying out for the heads of these doctors.
Charles Micallef
Jan 28th, 15:26
It is my humble opinion that the Doctors' names should only be published if they are found guilty and not before!!!
Gilbert Busuttil
Jan 28th, 15:25
If they publish the names, the public will crucify them. then ff they are then proved to be innocent, there is no way back for their careers. Until the case is closed, the names should be kept under wraps.
Ms C Bartolo
Jan 28th, 15:15
The names should only be published if they are found guilty in my opinion.
P Bonnici
Jan 28th, 14:33
And the doctors' names? They must be identified.
We have the right to know who they are.
David Caruana
Jan 28th, 14:40
Why should their names be tarnished now, before they have even stepped in a court of law?
If they are found guilty, I'm sure that their names will be published.
Michael Sammut
Jan 28th, 14:43
Not until and if they are proven guilty.
P Bonnici
Jan 28th, 17:19
In the UK anyone charged in court has his name published, there are some exceptions such as some sexual offences.
Giov DeMartino
Jan 28th, 17:40
Imbaghad?
M. Bezzina
Jan 28th, 22:41
Mr.bonnici what is your outcome once the names are published?
moira sciberras
Jan 28th, 13:57
Why their names are not published ??? What about our children happens something to them??we need to know !!
Josephine Muscat
Jan 29th, 06:34
That's why you go to a doctor you TRUST
Mr mario aquilina
Jan 28th, 13:37
This doctors will be all out enjoying their pension by the time the court is finished with them.
Peter Murray
Jan 28th, 13:20
The Judge should have issued an arrest warrant IMMEDIATELY for those persons where responsible for "FORMALLY NOTIFYING" the doctor and ensuringh his/her presence in court who clearly are inept their job !Why threaten an unaware and not notified doctor with arrest?
josephine CACHIA
Jan 28th, 13:16
Doctors names please...its true that everyone learns from their mistakes...but some of them never learn...good luck to these strong parents...
G. Muscat
Jan 28th, 21:56
Dear Ms. Cachia,
Why should the names be published before the sentence is handed out? What if the doctors are cleared and not guilty after all? Would it be fair on them to be named at this point?
I hope you learnt from your mistake :)
anthony sultana
Jan 28th, 12:54
Good move.The doctors should have a new test every 5 years to see if they are really doctors or shoe makers.It is important because they work on our body, and they get pay well.In America they do the test every 5 years, and lots of them loose their license.
C. Bonnici
Jan 28th, 13:27
Well, Anthony, in theory your proposal would make sense. But, in reality, are there enough doctors in Malta to do that?
Stefan Zammit
Jan 28th, 13:42
The perfect example of being guilty unless being proven innocent!
J. Debono
Jan 28th, 14:09
I agree with your comment except for one thing. - They are NOT paid well. They are paid peanuts.
James Attard
Jan 28th, 15:49
Most of the doctors in Malta do 'tests' to use your noun. But besides that, you're either naive or perhaps badly informed - most of the local doctors are not paid well - nurses with average overtime get paid like doctors. The exceptions of course are the foreign consultants who are also tax-free.
Hence why most local doctors leave malta...hence why lack of doctors locally.
Naomi Attard Borg
Jan 28th, 16:37
I agree with doctors being tested every 5 years or so, but they do not get paid well. they did not manage to save the life of this girl (if found guilty), how many lives have they saved?? It is a lot easier to point fingers when things go wrong, but rarely praise their efforts!
C Sant
Jan 28th, 20:33
Paid well, my foot!
Andrew John Mercieca
Jan 28th, 22:23
You don t have a clue what you r talking about. We never stop studying mate. Please do not condemn people before even the start of the trial.
A. Mercieca MD
Michael Flaherty
Jan 28th, 12:38
Isn't it the court's responsibility to ensure that all parties involved are notified? Therefore, why is he being warned? Why wasn't the session held without him and then his testimony added and evaluated at a later date?
Anthea Bezzina
Jan 28th, 12:36
At least they were arraigned. I never got anywhere.
Ruth Schembri
Jan 28th, 12:15
I love the irony of the picture...Mater Dei sign...with women with a cigarette in hand...VERY HEALTHY!
S.M. Cuschieri
Jan 28th, 12:44
such a good observation!!!! lolol!!!
Ruth Schembri
Jan 28th, 12:55
Thanks S.M Cuschieri :)
J Micallef
Jan 28th, 14:04
Splendid, Ms. Schembri!
M Vella
Jan 28th, 12:09
kulhadd mar ghall xejn imhabba bniedem wihed.Hekk sew?xarukaza.
B Attard
Jan 28th, 13:17
fejnha s-serjeta? min kien inkarigat javza lil dan it-tabib se johrog scott free? he must pay for his negligence.
Franco Abela
Jan 28th, 11:45
First sitting... postponed. Let's see how many years this will take. Good luck to the poor parents.
carmel callus
Jan 28th, 12:29
Abela, what exactly are you after...after their blood?
Franco Abela
Jan 28th, 12:40
JUSTICE!
ISN'T THAT WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE AFTER?
P. Ciantar
Jan 28th, 13:08
Do not know the case but hope for the parents that justice is done
Aristide Galea
Jan 28th, 13:10
Mr Callus , the fact that Mr Abela wished good luck does not neccessary mean that they are after their blood . But that justice be done and one can learn from these situations so that there will be no more situations like this . I am not implying that there was some kind of neglect , I am not familiar with this case , but surely wishing good luck to these poor perents , is no big deal .
Peter Murray
Jan 28th, 13:24
Dear Mr Callus ,
What I would suggest Mr Abela is "after" is the quain,t old-fashoned notion called Justice and that justice delayed is justice denied.What are you after?
C. Bonnici
Jan 28th, 13:28
Mr Callus, I'm struggling to make some sense out of your comment. You left me with no words.... What's your point pls?
Mario Camilleri
Jan 28th, 13:48
@Carmel Callus.
I presume like me Mr Abela after wasted money and time. Here's the slip "The court was told that he had not been formally notified", why wasn't he formally notified?
Tony Borg
Jan 28th, 14:10
No Mr. Callus, Mr Abela is not after anybody's blood. He just commented on the delays that will definitely happen.
If you ever had the pleasure of attending courts in Malta you will know what Mr. Abela is talking about
A Galea
Jan 28th, 14:11
@ Carmel Callus - What a stupid comment. I think Mr. Abela may be after justice in a timely manner, something any democratic country aspires to.
LINO BONETT
Jan 28th, 14:15
Dear Mr. Callus you should ask yourself that question if the girl in question was your daughter
James Grima
Jan 28th, 14:25
Justice for an innocent child's death. Hope that answers your question Callus.
P Bonnici
Jan 28th, 14:34
Mr Abela is after justice not blood.
G. Muscat
Jan 28th, 21:53
If justice is what we are interested in, let's also wish luck to the doctors too! After all, we are not sure they are guilty, are we?
Cause we are after justice :)
Please choose the reason of your report below: