A doctor was today acquitted of the involuntary homicide of a prisoner in August 2010.

The 45-year-old prisoner had been admitted to Mater Dei Hospital accompanied by the doctor after he was found unconscious in his cell.

The prisoner had buzzed for help and complained of chest pains. A correctional officer phoned the doctor who told the prison authorities to give the prisoner paracetamol.

After about half an hour, the prisoner again complained of chest pains, the doctor was contacted once again and told the officer to tell the prisoner to give the pills time to work.

The prisoner buzzed to say he was still in pain after another 15 minutes.

A quarter of an hour later, the correctional officer tried to call the prisoner in his cell but there was no answer.

The prisoner was then found unconscious on his bed leaning against the wall.

The doctor was called and he arrived at the prisons at the same time as the ambulance.

The prisoner was given CPR and was taken to hospital, where he was declared dead. He had died of a massive heart attack.

In her judgment, Magistrate Audrey Demicoli said the court had taken into consideration the fact that the doctor had been familiar with the prisoner’s file, where it was noted that he suffered from heartburn.

The doctor had not been aware the person giving him the information about the prisoner was not directly seeing the prisoner.

She noted that the attack had started at least 12 hours before the doctor was contacted and the doctor did not know that the prisoner had been complaining of chest pains from the day before.

The prisoner had even requested to be removed from the doctor’s waiting list.

Magistrate Demicoli ruled that, in view of this, the accused should be considered to have given his diagnoses and care to the best of his ability on the basis of the information he was being given and based on his knowledge of the patient’s medical history.

She said he could not be considered negligent and imprudent in the carrying out of his duty.

Lawyer Joe Giglio appeared for the accused.

The names of both the doctor and the prisoner cannot be mentioned by court order.

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