A hospital orderly at Bellvitge Hospital is accused of abusing a patient with severe anorexia.
The events date back to the summer of 2020 and the Catalan Health Institute is asking for his acquittal.
BarcelonaA hospital orderly at Bellvitge Hospital, OMV, will appear in court this week at the Barcelona Provincial Court as the alleged perpetrator of repeated sexual abuse of a patient. According to information obtained by ARA, the events date back to the summer of 2020, and the complainant, an adult, was hospitalized in the eating disorders unit at Bellvitge, a center of the Catalan Health Institute (ICS) of the Generalitat of Catalonia. She suffered from severe anorexia. In its indictment, the Public Prosecutor's Office is requesting a nine-year prison sentence for the orderly. The private prosecution, representing the complainant, is seeking a ten-year sentence. The ICS, which is subsidiarily liable for any future compensation, as well as the defendant's legal team, are requesting his acquittal.
According to the public prosecutor's report, the complainant, a nurse, was admitted to this specialized unit of Bellvitge Hospital from June 22, 2020, to July 4 of the same year. The prosecution describes repeated sexual abuse by the orderly. The first incident, according to the same document, occurred on an unspecified day within that period when the accused entered the complainant's room and allegedly kissed her on the lips. Afterward, the situation escalated, and sexual abuse involving penetration took place. The documentation states that the accused even told the woman that he enjoyed the risk of having healthcare professionals in the next rooms while he committed the abuse. In her account, the complainant describes in detail several episodes of abuse over a period of just over two weeks.
The difficult recovery
Sources close to the complainant indicate that, at the time, her medical condition was very serious and her life was at risk. After six years of legal and medical ordeal, the woman has now improved and is no longer hospitalized. Following the events she reported, she attempted suicide several times and was also admitted to eating disorder units in other Catalan hospitals. These people close to the victim regret the way Bellvitge Hospital handled her case. When contacted by this newspaper, both Bellvitge Hospital and the Catalan Health Department declined to comment on the case, stating that it is an ongoing legal process. In cases of severe eating disorders like the complainant's, there are very strict communication protocols, especially in 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the complainant did not remain silent about the abuse she suffered: she went to the center's psychiatrist and psychologist and described the abuse she was experiencing. The psychologist recommended that she report it to the hospital and provided her with several complaint forms. She submitted this information—which is included in the case file—but those close to her lament that she received no response. They add that the only thing that happened was that the orderly was transferred to another floor.
Letters to the dirty laundry
Desperation drove the complainant to try to contact her family by any means necessary. She recounts that among the dirty laundry her mother was supposed to receive, she left letters explaining that she was being abused. These letters are also part of the court case. According to those close to her, her mother tried to see her, but was not allowed to. However, those close to her criticize the fact that some staff members reprimanded the complainant for the complaints she had filed against the orderly.
When she was discharged on July 4th after reaching the minimum weight, the complainant went to the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) to file a complaint, which has now led to the trial taking place this week. The hospital eventually referred the matter to the Public Prosecutor's Office, but only after the patient had already filed a complaint. Therefore, the Public Prosecutor's response to the hospital was that the Mossos were already investigating. At that point, the orderly was removed from the case. Security cameras would have been key to seeing if and when OMV entered his room, but the recorded images were deleted after fifteen days.
The caretaker's defense
In its written defense, the defendant's legal representation denies the allegations and criticizes the fact that the only evidence against OMV is the complainant's statement, that there are no corroborating witness statements, and that the woman "tends to fabricate." It also points out that the defendant has no prior criminal record and that the disciplinary proceedings initiated against him have not resulted in a "final" sanction. For its part, the Catalan Health Institute (ICS) also requests acquittal, stating that there are several contradictions in the victim's statement. The insurance company, also a party to the case, requests acquittal, arguing that there is no evidence to prove the abuse. Aside from the difficult process of coping with an eating disorder, the complainant has also presented symptoms of post-traumatic stress following the abuse, which will be tried starting this week at the Barcelona Provincial Court.
