Euthanasia: after four suspicious deaths, a doctor in custody in Bayonne

Written by Sandeep Nehra

A doctor at the hospital in Bayonne (Pyrenees Atlantiques), suspected of active euthanasia at least four elderly patients was taken into custody on Wednesday while the Ministry of Health on Thursday urged the opening of a administrative investigation.

The facts concerning the deaths occurred over the last five months, including a 92-year-old woman, died Aug. 3, would have taken place in the emergency department of the main hospital in the Basque Country.

Preliminary information has been opened for “premeditated murder,” said Stephane Lambert, vice-prosecutor of Bayonne, stating that the custody of the doctor, emergency room equipped with a “certain age” as a service , whose identity was not released, was extended Thursday morning in anticipation of a possible indictment.

Labour Minister Xavier Bertrand and Nora Berra, Secretary of State for Health, announced in the afternoon to open an administrative investigation of the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS), on ” conditions of death of hospitalized “in Bayonne.

All reported cases of elderly patients have been admitted to the emergency while being classified as “end of life” awaiting placement in a palliative care service, said the prosecutor.

The facts were reported by officers of the emergency department at their hierarchy has decided to call the police, according to a statement released Thursday by the Hospital of the Basque coast, with approximately 1,200 beds and 300 doctors.

“On August 9, caregivers of the hospital sent a report to their management on the conditions of death of hospitalized patients at end of life,” says the text, adding that “the hospital director immediately before the prosecutor of the Republic “.

The deputy prosecutor of Bayonne said the four deaths considered suspicious had been found in April and May, July and last August 3, date of death of the patient 92, who had been admitted to the emergency the day before.

Bayonne Hospital has ensured his side have “contacted the families of those affected” and stressed that “the management, the medical community and all staff are devastated by this situation.” A “psychological support unit” was set up to service personnel.

While stressing the need to “respect the presumption of innocence” in this case, the director of the institution said it will “fully cooperating with the law and with the mission of the Igas conducted by the Department of Health. ”

The administrative investigation will include the Igas aim “to analyze the functioning of the institution, the procedures of internal control and management of patients in the department concerned,” the ministerial statement.

The report of the administrative investigation must be made within two months.

The Ministry of Health has also expressed its “support for families of those affected” and hoped that “teams can continue to work in serenity for the interest and safety of patients treated in this institution.”