Montpellier court begins trial over death of MHSC youth player

A trial has commenced in Montpellier involving a 58-year-old emergency physician and the Saint-Roch clinic, both facing charges of involuntary manslaughter. The case concerns the medical care provided to a 15-year-old goalkeeper from the MHSC training center in early 2019.

The teenager, originally from La Réunion, sought medical attention multiple times for acute abdominal pain and nausea. Medical professionals reportedly diagnosed him with gastroenteritis, failing to identify acute diabetic ketoacidosis. During a subsequent hospitalization, the youth suffered a cardio-respiratory arrest, leading to an irreversible vegetative state. After four years of severe disability and rehabilitation, the athlete passed away in August 2023.

Medical experts cited in the case have pointed to diagnostic failures and inadequate care. The accused physician denies any professional negligence.