Hospitalized for a fractured femur about a week before her death on August 31, a patient had seen her operation postponed several times. As this had to be done on an empty stomach, the septuagenarian would not have been fed, according to her family, who filed a complaint. The university hospital center (CHU) of Dijon (Côte-d’Or) defended itself, Tuesday, November 8, for having left this 77-year-old patient to die of hunger.
The case, revealed by the local newspaper the public good, caused a great stir within the University Hospital, which said “fully aware of emotion” aroused. The Dijon public prosecutor’s office confirmed the opening of a preliminary investigation for intentional homicide, following the complaint, and the CHU reported that an autopsy was ordered by the public prosecutor’s office. The results are not yet known.
” Under surveillance “
The patient’s operation went well “several postponements”, recognized at a press conference Emmanuel Baulot, head of the adult orthopedic and traumatological surgery department of the CHU. The septuagenarian was well maintained on an empty stomach “several successive days” but ” under surveillance “ and, after each postponement, she “had meals”he however assured, specifying that this was recorded in his file.
Without wishing to comment on the ongoing investigation, Mr. Baulot informed that the patient had several comorbidities, admitting however that the repeated postponements of her operation had led to a deterioration in her state of health.