Tartagal judge rejects settlement offer in medical malpractice case

A judge in Tartagal, Argentina, has rejected a request for a suspended sentence (probation) for three doctors from the Juan Domingo Perón Hospital. The medical professionals are facing charges of involuntary manslaughter following the death of a 17-year-old boy in October 2025. The teenager reportedly died from generalized septicemia after presenting with peritonitis.

During the hearing, the defense offered various forms of compensation to avoid an oral trial, including payments of 25 million and 10 million pesos, the donation of a vehicle, and community service. The defendants also requested that they not be disqualified from practicing medicine, arguing they need to continue working to fulfill their financial commitments.

While the victim's father consented to the proposed reparations, Judge Marcelo Alvarado denied the request. The magistrate stated it was “neither reasonable nor logical” to attempt to avoid a trial through economic compensation while simultaneously seeking to keep professional activities intact after the incident under investigation.