Another case of alleged medical malpractice at ASL Napoli 3 Sud, accompanied by what the lawyers call “miscarriage of justice”. Giovanna Bifulco, 40, died in February 2004 following alleged medical errors and omissions in treatment. After years of legal battles, the family and lawyers are now asking for the investigation to be reopened.
According to Studio Associati Maior, which represents the family, the woman lost her life due to a series of serious negligences by the health personnel. In the days before her death, Bifulco had shown worrying symptoms, but her condition was underestimated by the doctors, who limited themselves to telephone prescriptions and inadequate medications without ever examining her. Only when the situation was desperate was the intervention of 118 requested, but there was nothing more that could be done for the woman.
The initial investigations by the Prosecutor's Office had recognized omissions in medical treatment, but the case was closed, attributing the death to an "unforeseeable viral complication". The civil action filed by the family also ended with negative results, despite a Court report having highlighted serious shortcomings in the clinical management of the case.
Now, the lawyers of Studio Associati Maior – Pierlorenzo Catalano, Michele Francesco Sorrentino and Filippo Castaldo – together with the medical examiner Marcello Lorello, are forcefully asking to reopen the file to shed light on any responsibilities. “We cannot accept that such obvious errors are minimized, preventing the ascertainment of the truth,” the lawyers say.
Meanwhile, Giovanna Bifulco's family has launched an institutional awareness campaign to prevent similar tragedies from going unpunished. The mayors of the municipalities involved have expressed solidarity with the family and joint initiatives are being evaluated to seek justice.
Article published on 21 February 2025 - 09:56
Giovanna Bifulco's story makes us reflect on how important it is for healthcare workers to be more attentive. The symptoms cannot be underestimated and more training is needed to avoid tragedies like this.
It is sad to know that there were medical errors, but there are also many complex situations in the hospital. We hope that the investigation can clarify the situation and bring justice to the family.