The parents are still seeking justice Ilaria Parimbelli28 year old girl who died after two years in a vegetative state due to non-diagnostic herpetic encephalitis 2 years earlier and left her completely disabled and unable to even swallow.
The girl experienced fever, vomiting, headaches and hallucinations. On September 23 2019 he was discharged from the emergency room of the San Marco Polyclinic in Zingonia (Bergamo) with a diagnosis of anxiety crisis, after 4 days he was diagnosed with herpetic encephalitis at the Papa Giovanni XXIII hospital. Two years later, on August 1, 2021, he died of asphyxiation due to an epileptic seizure. The doctor at the San Marco Polyclinic who replaced his colleague, 63-year-old Francesco Bagnolo, is on trial for medical negligence and involuntary manslaughter. Discussions were postponed until January 12.
Consult a neurologist
In the trial on November 19, infectious disease specialist Roberto Stellini and medical examiner Andrea Verzeletti testified as experts appointed by judge Donatella Nava. “If the defendant had requested a neurological consultation, would herpetic encephalitis have been diagnosed in a timely manner?” asked Ilaria’s family lawyer. “A neurologist definitely has greater diagnostic sensitivity,” answered Dr. Stellini, as reported by Eco in Bergamo. «He will order a CT scan, which may be negative and, given the results, perhaps other tests, such as an electroencephalogram or magnetic resonance imaging».
Ignore the hallucinations
The judge asked again: «Based on Ilaria’s medical history, the data she has and the guidelines, should the doctor suspect that there is a problem affecting the brain?».
Verzeletti replied: «Not enough weight is given to auditory and visual hallucinations. He should have requested a neurological consultation and ordered further tests to obtain more precise data.”
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