Clínica Las Condes ordered to pay 100 million pesos for unauthorized surgery

The Santiago Court of Appeals has ruled against Clínica Las Condes and two doctors, ordering them to pay 100 million pesos in compensation to a patient. The court increased the original 60 million peso indemnity following a gynecological intervention performed without informed consent.

The medical professionals conducted a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy—the removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes—without the patient's permission. The court described this conduct as “gravísima” (extremely serious) and rejected the defendants' argument that the procedure was a “correct medical decision.”

The ruling emphasized that medical decisions belong to the patient and that clinical adequacy does not justify overriding patient autonomy. The court noted the patient suffered a “relevant and unjust” impact on her dignity as a person.