A Vosges hospital suspends surgeries after suspicious deaths, what we know

The Remiremont hospital in the Vosges has suspended all these surgical activities until October 11. It is aimed at by several complaints for "intentional homicide" after deaths of patients considered suspicious.

One patient died at Remiremont hospital, in the Vosges, after undergoing surgery on October 3. This 78-year-old woman who underwent surgery for a bill caused by a fall is not the first to suffer. die within the hospital center after an intervention. The death would be linked to care problems at home exit from the operating room, according to information from Vosges-Matin. Responsibility from the hospital, already aimed at by around ten complaints for suspicious deaths or negligence, is at risk. new questioning.

Is this death one too many? The hospital has taken measures accordingly and announced in a press release published on October 4 the suspension of all surgeries, with the exception of those necessary urgently, until October 11: "Following the unexpected death of a patient at the Remiremont Hospital Center in surgery, and due to the context general in particular on complaints, he was decided, as a precautionary measure, to suspend the entire service. of the activity “surgical programmed”. This represents 80 unscheduled operations.

12 complaints filed and one investigation opened

The Remiremont hospital center ensures that it has taken all the necessary measures following the unexpected death of their patient: the ARS du Grand Est was contacted. "immediately" informed and carried out "a declaration of a serious adverse event according to the regulatory alert procedure". The ARS has also indicated that the medical file of the deceased patient is "under analysis".

But more than this particular case, it is the organization of the establishment which must be inspected after the filing of 12 complaints, including at least eight for "intentional homicide" after deaths deemed suspicious by the victims' families. Two others were filed for "willful injury" and the last two for "research into the cause of death" specifies Le Point.

An investigation was thus carried out. launched by the ARS to "analyze the situation and verify that all medical and surgical organizations are fully compliant with the rules of the establishment". And the hospital 'decided' to ask “all surgeons to justify that the surgical protocols which are imposed are perfectly respected”, added the CHU lawyer at the microphone of BFMTV. Previous investigations, more precisely a "medical-administrative inspection responsible for examining" each case complained of, had already been investigated. Summer carried out by the ARS in January 2023.

The lack and renewal of staff pointed out finger

The lack of doctors and the successive departures and replacements of staff members could be partly responsible for the negligence denounced by the complainants, according to the investigations carried out. by the research section of the judicial police (SRPJ) of Nancy which confirmed the existence of fault. resorting more to temporary workers and which seems general in the Vosges department, is added financial difficulties and competitive rivalry. between health facilities of the territory reveals Le Point.

These vices have also been destroyed. mentioned in the report of the regional chamber of accounts of 2017 on the Romarimont hospital. Which explains that these shortcomings are “the consequence of a weak restructuring of the healthcare offer in the Vosges basin”. Problems related to the activity surgical procedures were when They were known to the authorities since the newspaper reports that the Remiremont hospital "never" accredited by the High Authority health only subject to reservations or conditions, including during the last inspection whose conclusions were confirmed. delivered in June. These findings raised "security concerns" in the operating room and, above all, recurrently, the poor keeping of patient files.