Jimena family to sue for medical negligence

JIMENA (EFE) A tragedy developed in Jimena over the weekend. A young man of 28, José María Caracuel, recently employed as a street cleaner, died at 7am on Saturday as the result of an embolism in his left leg. He had turned up at the medical centre the evening before, on Friday, presenting a very swollen leg that had turned almost black. The doctor's diagnosis was that it was a blood circulation problem and he was advised simply to rest his leg. The village rumour mill was at its most vehement on Saturday morning, with all sorts of conjectures doing the rounds. However, the family announced that it was planning to sue the doctor on duty and the medical centre for alleged medical negligence. Family members say that even after he went to the centre on Saturday morning he was told to go back home, and die shortly after.>

Caracuel's body was subjected to an autopsy in Algeciras yesterday, after which family and friends were in attendance at the funeral home in San Pablo. Interment is scheduled for eleven this morning, after which the family is expected to concentrate in front of the health centre to request responsibilities.

In the meantime, sources at the Junta's health authority in the Campo de Gibraltar announced that the matter was being investigated, although they did show their support for the physician who was in attendance.

José María was the fourth of five brothers of a well-known Jimena family. He had only recently been given a job with the street cleaning company, Arcgisa, and could be seen at his job on weekends and holidays.