Not only is there a judicial investigation aimed at scrutinizing every medical and organizational aspect of the heart transplant that resulted in the death of little Domenico Caliendo, but the matter is also now erupting into a public battle among lawyers, filled with press releases, accusations, and harsh responses, which threatens to transform a medical tragedy into a national case fraught with tension and controversy.
On one side, the defenders of cardiac surgeon Gabriella Farina, head of the Monaldi team responsible for the organ removal in Bolzano. On the other, the lawyer for the child's family, Francesco Petruzzi, urged "silence and decorum," accusing the opposing party of attempting a belated and inadequate defense.
In the background remains the tragedy of a child who died on February 21, two months after the transplant performed on December 23, 2025, in a Neapolitan hospital.
The cardiac surgeon's defense: "The team was unfairly denigrated."
Lawyers Anna Maria Ziccardi and Dario Gagliano intervened to reject what they called an "unfair and unfair" portrayal of the Neapolitan team.
According to the defense, a public narrative has emerged in recent days that contrasts the supposed efficiency of healthcare facilities in Northern Italy and Austria with the unpreparedness of doctors in the South. This narrative, they argue, does not do justice to the professionalism of the Monaldi hospital staff and, more generally, of southern healthcare facilities.
A passage that also suggests the risk of a media clash on a territorial basis.
For Dr. Farina's lawyers, such sensitive matters require caution and, above all, reconstructions based on previously established evidence, avoiding partial versions that could influence public opinion and the work of the judiciary itself.
The call is explicit: respect for the child's memory and the family's grief, but also for the professionals involved.
The issue of organ transplantation in Bolzano
In the statement, the defense addresses one of the most controversial points of the entire case: the manner in which the heart was preserved and transported to Naples.
According to the lawyers, the doctors from the Innsbruck team confirmed that, despite some initial misunderstandings, the transplant took place in a collaborative atmosphere and in compliance with health protocols.
The container used to transport the organ — they claim — complied with current regulations.
Not only that, but the Neapolitan health workers, according to the defense's reconstruction, were not informed of the existence of more modern or alternative containers, a circumstance that prevented them from making decisions that differed from operational practice.
Another key point concerns the images circulating online of a refrigerator in the Bolzano hospital labeled “dry ice.”
According to the defense, these were misleading elements, capable of erroneously suggesting that the cardiac surgeon had not read the instructions on the refrigerant material.
The lawyers explain instead that the material was collected by local staff and brought to the operating room while Dr. Farina was busy packaging the organ to expedite its departure to Naples.
The dry ice issue and operational responsibilities
One of the most delicate points concerns the supply of the refrigerant material.
According to the defense, the position of the operating room staff at the South Tyrolean hospital also deserves attention. When asked for ice for transportation, they allegedly supplied solid carbon dioxide—so-called dry ice—visually indistinguishable from traditional ice but with scalding effects.
A circumstance that, if confirmed, would raise questions about any shared responsibilities in the management of the entire operation.
The lawyers reiterate their confidence in the judiciary, which is called upon to determine any responsibilities without media pressure.
The family's response: "Silence and respect are needed."
Francesco Petruzzi, the lawyer representing little Domenico's parents, gave a very harsh response.
The professional speaks openly of "makeshift and clumsy defenses," instead asking for respect and silence in the face of the family's grief.
In his speech, Petruzzi lists a long series of objections that—he emphasizes—emerge from the investigation documents and the assessments of the foreign health workers involved in the operations.
These include alleged language difficulties in dealing with the Austrian team, the logistical management of the transfer between Verona and Bolzano, some clinical decisions following the removal, and the management of post-operative drainage, which reportedly caused severe multi-organ congestion that was later resolved by the Innsbruck team.
The protests also concern the handling of the container used to transport the heart and the alleged failure to distinguish between traditional ice and dry ice.
The silence of forty days and the pain of the parents
The last step of the reply was particularly difficult.
According to the family's lawyer, the family maintained silence on the events for over forty days, without providing any explanations to the child's parents.
A circumstance that, Petruzzi claims, would further aggravate the moral position of those who today publicly intervene in the matter.
Words that mark a clear leap in tension in the conflict between the parties.
The judicial investigation and the issues still open
Meanwhile, the work of the Prosecutor's Office remains central, tasked with reconstructing every stage of the healthcare chain: from the organ removal in Bolzano to the organ transport, up to the surgical procedure and the clinical course following the Monaldi operation.
The investigations will clarify whether there were technical errors, organizational misunderstandings, or individual responsibilities.
A complex investigation, inevitably destined to involve multiple healthcare facilities and several national healthcare systems.
While the media debate heats up, one thing remains certain: at the heart of the story is not just a clash of versions, but the search for the truth about a tragedy that has scarred a family and raised profound questions about the management of international transplants.
Changes and revisions to this article
- Article updated on 28/02/2026 at 22:01 PM - Title typo corrected
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
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