Naples – The Naples Public Prosecutor's Office is widening its investigation into the death of Domenico, the two-year-old boy who died this morning in the intensive care unit of the Monaldi Hospital after sixty days in a medically induced coma following a heart transplant performed on December 23rd. The organ was found to be severely damaged during transport from Bolzano to Naples.
This afternoon, Carabinieri from the Anti-Adulteration and Healthcare Unit seized the cell phones of the six doctors and paramedics listed as suspects. Investigators' goal is to reconstruct in detail the communications between the medical team members during the crucial hours of the operation.
Cell phones seized: hunt for communications from the day of the operation
The investigation, coordinated by the Naples Public Prosecutor's Office, aims to clarify every step of the heart removal, transportation, and subsequent transplant. Through analysis of electronic devices, the NAS (National Anti-Corruption Agency) intends to verify any exchanges of information, operational decisions, and clinical assessments made before and during the surgical procedure.
In recent days, notices of investigation had already been served on the six health workers involved in the procedure. In light of the child's death, the charges are set to change: from the initial charge of grievous bodily harm through negligence, they will now be upgraded to manslaughter.
New acquisitions and seized body: autopsy on Monday
This morning, NAS Carabinieri returned to the Neapolitan hospital to acquire medical records relating to the child's final days. Investigators had already seized the medical records and documents related to the transplant performed on December 23, 2025.
The body was also seized and transferred in the early afternoon to the Second Polyclinic of Naples, where an autopsy will be performed. The official assignment of the technical consultants by the Prosecutor's Office is expected on Monday.
Further investigations are not ruled out. New suspects may be added to the list of suspects in the coming days, especially when the results of the parallel investigation opened by the Bolzano Prosecutor's Office, responsible for determining what happened during the organ's transportation, reach Naples.
The heart surgeon's defense: "We did everything possible to save him."
Meanwhile, the defense of the cardiac surgeon who performed the operation, Guido Oppido, has released its position. In a statement, his lawyers Alfredo Sorge and Vittorio Manes emphasize their confidence in the technical tests ordered by investigators.
"We calmly await the reconstruction of the facts that will emerge from the investigation," the lawyers explain, "but we are convinced that our client did everything that was professionally required and humanly possible to save little Domenico's life, working against time and against every available minute."
The autopsy and technical reports will now represent the decisive step in clarifying responsibilities and any errors along the complex healthcare chain that preceded the transplant that ended in tragedy.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
The situation is very complex and sad; the death of a child is always a sobering tragedy. I hope the investigation will clarify what happened during the transplant and whether anyone is responsible. It's important that justice take its course.