Brussels Hospitals and Doctors Face Trial in Teen’s Misdiagnosis Death After 9-Year Investigation

After nine years, the expert report expected since 2016 was finally made available in 2019. Its conclusions are contested by the Saint-Luc clinics, which denounce the absence of the principle of adversarial proceedings in the procedure, thus raising a violation of the rights of the defense. An argument overruled by the justice system, which considers that in nine years of procedure, the possibility was given to each party to make its observations.

According to La Dernière Heure, the facts date back to June 2011, when Imane complained of abdominal pain followed by vomiting during the night. Her parents therefore called a doctor who examined her at home. Suspecting appendicitis, he immediately recommended that the parents take her to the emergency room. After examining Imane, the pediatrician had estimated that she could return home and follow a treatment of Fortimel, Motilium and Dafalgan, explaining that the girl was simply stressed, since it was the eve of school exams. This, despite the insistence of the girl’s parents, who pointed out to her that she could no longer walk alone due to the pain.

According to the same source, the diagnostic errors made by the various doctors would be at the origin of Imane Jellal’s death. Because, once at home, her condition worsened, with a blood pressure dropping to 6, which forced her parents to call another doctor, still at home. He simply issued the patient a three-day medical certificate. The next night, Imane died from acute peritonitis diagnosed too late.

The emergency room pediatrician and the second home doctor are being prosecuted in court. As for Imane’s parents, they have been waiting since 2011 for the trial to open. "We have nothing against the Saint-Luc clinics... But, from our point of view, there were flaws that certainly led to the death of a young girl..." their lawyer, Jean-Paul Tieleman, said.