Patient Dies at Villa Sofia: Palermo Court of Appeal Freezes Compensation

The enforcement of the 900,000 euro compensation to the family of a man who died during a cholecystectomy has been blocked. The lawyer argues that the hospital is not responsible for the death.

The Court of Appeal of Palermo has suspended the enforcement of a judgment against the Ospedali Riuniti Villa Sofia – Cervello di Palermo company, which had been ordered to pay over one million euros in compensation to the wife and children of a patient who died on May 26, 2017, two days after a cholecystectomy.

The hospital, whose medical staff had been acquitted in criminal proceedings regarding the patient’s death, filed an appeal through its lawyer Girolamo Rubino, with the first hearing scheduled for November 22nd. While awaiting judgment, the defense requested and obtained a suspension of the enforceability of the contested judgment.

According to the lawyer, the death cannot be attributed to the hospital, as its medical staff acted in accordance with protocols, which was confirmed during the criminal proceedings. The Court of Appeal also suspended the order for litigation costs, amounting to over 27,000 euros.

Source: Giornale di Sicilia / Editorial team