Victim's Mother Seeks New Hearing on Ethical Complaints Against Minister, Anesthetist

Rosario Barrera, mother of a patient who died, is pursuing renewed efforts to have ethical complaints against Minister Cristina Lustemberg and anesthetist Inés Miralles formally investigated. The Uruguayan Medical Ethics Tribunal had previously informed Barrera that her initial complaint lacked the necessary clarity and detail to proceed.

In response, Barrera has appointed Pablo Schiavi, a lawyer with expertise in medical law, to represent her. Under his guidance, she plans to submit two revised complaints in the coming days. Schiavi expressed confidence in their objective: "We are going to work to ensure the complaints are admitted." He clarified that admission would initiate the process, not guarantee a favorable outcome, but it is the crucial first step.

Schiavi believes there was an ethical lapse in the actions of both Lustemberg, who reduced the anesthetist's suspension from five to three years, and Miralles, who was involved in the surgery of Barrera's daughter, Soledad. "We want the tribunal to judge this," Schiavi stated, aiming to move beyond procedural hurdles to address the core issue of whether the professionals deviated from the Code of Medical Ethics.

The tribunal's previous resolution indicated that for a formal process to begin, Barrera needed to specify precisely which actions constituted ethical breaches by Dr. Lustemberg. The tribunal noted that the complaint's reference to administrative acts was insufficient and that the procedural regulations require a clear and precise narration of facts. Barrera aims to provide this precision in her new submissions.