'I hugged her, she was stiff and cold': 3-year-old girl dies in hospital, parents file complaint

The three-year-old girl died in the hospital in Figueres. Envato Elements – Illustration

A 3-year-old girl died on the night of Tuesday, September 17 to Wednesday, September 18, 2024, in the hospital in Figueres, Catalonia. Her parents filed a complaint for medical negligence.

Briana, a 3-year-old child, died during the night of Tuesday 17 to Wednesday 18 September at the hospital in Figueres, as our colleagues from L’Indépendant through the testimonies of her parents in the Spanish media. They filed a complaint against the medical services of Roses and Figueres for negligence.

The child died in hospital

Transported to the emergency room in Roses on Saturday, September 14th following vomiting and stomach aches, the little girl was quickly sent home by the doctors. They suspected a simple seasonal virus, reports the media El Espanol. However, his condition did not improve in the following days and his stomach aches were combined with fever and a rash.

After seeing the pediatrician, who supported the virus hypothesis, the parents decided to take her back to the Roses emergency room on Tuesday, September 17. Dehydrated, the little girl was transferred by ambulance to the hospital in Figueres, where she died during the night.

Her death is believed to be linked to taking medication

Erika Reina, the little girl's mother, told the media outlet El Espanolthat it was taking medication that caused her condition to deteriorate. “I saw her foot, her leg. They turned red, then purple and very hard,” she testifies. After being asked to leave the treatment room, Briana's parents were called back a little later by the doctors to tell them that their daughter had died. "I went in to hug her and she was stiff and cold. She had been dead for longer" the mother assures the Spanish media.

An autopsy has been ordered

The High Court of Catalonia reported last week in a statement that the parents had filed a complaint and that an investigation procedure had been opened. According to the couple to the media El Espanol, the medical reports omit mention of the medications that were given to him. The courts have ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of the child's death.