Girl given overdose of morphine at Hospital de Talca dies

SANTIAGO.– Just after 10:00 AM today, 6 year-old Lilian Martínez passed away in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Hospital de Talca. The girl went brain dead after being administered an overdose of morphine at the medical facility.

Lillian's body will be taken to the Coroner's Office of Talca, where they will carry out a series of tests to determine the cause of death. Officials from the Criminal Lab of Police Investigations will also participate.

The body may even be sent to Santiago to undergo further tests with the objective of determining the type and exact dosage of drugs administered to the minor.

The girl's parents are denouncing the negligence in the medical attention received by their daughter, who was administered an overdose of morphine that left her brain dead. The patient had undergone an operation of the palate.

The incident has triggered the resignation of the Hospital's director, Dr. Patricio Vildósola, who resigned after confirming that the girl was indeed brain dead. The deceased girl's parents are planning to sue the responsible parties.