Investigation launched as elderly woman dies at Papardo Hospital following three surgeries

Last Updated: October 6, 2023

An 80-year-old woman named Silvana Bellirè passed away on October 2nd after undergoing three surgical procedures at the Papardo hospital in Messina. She was urgently admitted to the hospital in early September due to an abdominal problem, and a CT scan revealed a swelling near her navel. The doctors decided to admit and operate on her later that afternoon. After the surgery, they informed her children that they had noticed a “narrowing” and had performed a cut and subsequent reconnection of the cut edges to avoid using an external bag. However, just before being discharged, Bellirè underwent another CT scan which revealed an infection that had caused damage to her colon. This required another surgery to place an external bag. But it didn’t end there, as Bellirè was scheduled for another operation a few days later to close a wound where a sponge had been inserted. During this time, her condition worsened, leading to her demise. Bellirè’s children, who closely followed their mother’s ordeal, have many doubts about what transpired in the hospital and have reported everything to the carabinieri. The prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation and ordered an autopsy. Only after the examination will the body be returned to the family for funeral arrangements.