Starting today, Domenico, the child admitted to Naples' Monaldi Hospital after an unsuccessful heart transplant, is expected to begin a new care program aimed at alleviating his suffering.
The mother's lawyer, Francesco Petruzzi, announced the news live on TV during the program "Dritto e Rovescio" on Rete 4.
"No euthanasia": what the family asks
"It's not euthanasia," the lawyer clarified, explaining that the decision aims to halt aggressive treatment and shift the focus of treatment from healing to managing pain and suffering. Petruzzi reported that he sent Monaldi a certified email to activate the PCC (shared care planning) program, introduced in 2017.
The role of the coroner and opinions from abroad
The decision, the lawyer explained, was made after consulting with a medical examiner who reviewed the medical records. According to Petruzzi, the same professional indicated that proceeding with this approach was "more humane" and also ruled out the need to seek further opinions from hospitals abroad.
Clinical conditions and today's meeting
"After the sedation was removed, the child did not wake up," Petruzzi reported, describing the prognosis as "certainly dire." The lawyer added that Monaldi accepted the request about an hour after the certified email was sent, and that the first visit is scheduled today to define the treatment plan, with the participation of the parents and the attending physician, aimed at planning pain relief.
The note on the timing of the multidisciplinary opinion
Finally, Petruzzi stated that he noted in the documentation received from the hospital that the first opinion from the multidisciplinary team dates back to February 6, indicating it as having arrived 45 days after the heart transplant that "did not work."
Changes and revisions to this article
- Article updated on 20/02/2026 at 06:06 PM - Content structure updated
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Comments (1)
It's sad to see a situation like this, but it's right to try to alleviate the child's pain. We hope this decision will lead to an improvement in his quality of life. Children's health is important.