Nurses charged with involuntary homicide were told not to leave victim unattended

John Darmanin, an elderly patient who choked to death one and a half hours after he went missing from his room, was given solid food despite his medical sheet and an expert’s report insisting that the victim was not to be given any.

A speech language pathologist, a witness summoned in the case against three Karin Grech Hospital nurses accused of the involuntary homicide of a patient, told the court today that nurses were requested to give the patient only thickened fluid and soft food, and no solid food such as chicken.

John Darmanin was found dead on March 7, 2012, 90 minutes after he went missing from his room. An autopsy report revealed that the victim died after choking on a piece of chicken, despite hospital staff having been prohibited from giving him solid food.

The victim’s wife subsequently filed a judicial letter, claiming that three hospital nurses negligently ignored specific instructions to supervise and assist the victim while eating, and not to feed him any solid food.

Chief nurse Maria Bondin, 57, from Paola, nursing aide Carol Bonnici, 55, from Siġġiewi, and nurse David Sant, 30, from Għargħur, have since pleaded not guilty to the involuntary homicide of the elderly victim.

Taking the witness stand, Roberta Chetcuti, a speech language pathologist, told the court that she had instructed hospital officials to refrain from giving the elderly patient any solid foods.

“Upon completing an assessment on Darmanin, it was noted that he suffers from dysphagia, a condition that made it difficult for him to swallow solid food. Consequently, I requested that he only be given thickened fluids and soft food.”

She explained that despite Karen Grech patients had only one menu to choose from, nurses are tasked with processing food according to the patients' requirements. 

“Just like any other case, the information pertaining to the victim's feeding requirments was attached to his bedshide advice sheed and also handed over to the nurses. This information was also recorded on the patient’s medical file,” she said.

Chetcuti also explained that the victim had an attention problem and she consequently requested that he not be left unattended while eating.

Also summoned in the compiliation of evidence agains the three nurses was Dr Brigette Gafa, on behalf of the government’s chief medical officer.

She testified that upon being informed of Darmanin’s death by his wife, she contacted nurses at Karen Grech Hospital to shed further light on the matter.

“They in turn could not confirm whether the death was accidental or whether foul play was involved. Faced with this uncertainty, the case was passed on to police to carry out a magisterial inquiry,” she said.

Lawyers Stefan Filletti appeared in parte civile for the Darmanin family, lawyer Lucio Sciriha appeared for Bondin, lawyer Steve Tonna Lowell for Bonnici and lawyer Kris Scicluna for Sant.
 
The case is expected to continue on October 9.