Turin prosecutors investigate death after heart transplant

The Turin Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation into the death of 36-year-old Raffaele Miele, who died on October 1 following a heart transplant at the Molinette Hospital. The investigation, coordinated by prosecutor Giorgio Nicola, is currently directed against unknown persons under the hypothesis of manslaughter.

Miele, who suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy, underwent a 12-hour surgical procedure on September 25 after a compatible organ was identified. While doctors initially reported the surgery was a success, his family states the transplanted heart struggled to maintain a rhythm, necessitating the use of ECMO support.

The investigation was initiated following a complaint by Miele's family, represented by lawyer Francesco Petruzzi. The family has raised concerns regarding inconsistencies in information provided by medical staff and has questioned the suitability of the transplanted organ. They also requested that the autopsy be ordered by the judiciary as an irreproducible technical assessment rather than an internal diagnostic procedure conducted by the hospital staff.