A woman who died after exhibiting stroke symptoms was let down by the Canary Health Service (SCS), a court in Las Palmas has ruled. The family of María Eulalia Cabrera Toledo, also known as Laly, took legal action against the SCS, leading to a judgement that highlighted significant deficiencies in her medical care.
The case centred on events following Laly’s visit to a health centre in Lanzarote, where a doctor suspected she might be having a stroke. The judgement stated that crucial clinical information was not available to hospital staff, as they could not access the reports generated at the health centre or the ambulance documentation during her transfer. This lack of information meant the necessary stroke protocol was not activated, which could have been decisive in her treatment.
Laly was initially examined at around 6 PM, showing neurological issues such as loss of strength on one side and difficulty walking. Although an ambulance was called to take her to the hospital, she was not re-assessed in Accident and Emergency until 8:20 PM, over two hours later. The court noted that a CT scan, which should have been performed given her symptoms, was never conducted.
The judge concluded that the initial clinical suspicion of an ischemic stroke warranted a more immediate response. However, the judgement clarified that the failure did not lie with the doctors treating Laly but with the management of the SCS, which had not equipped its facilities with the necessary systems to access prior medical information.
The ruling also discussed Laly’s potential for survival, indicating that had the stroke protocol been activated, she may have had a chance to recover. As a result, the SCS was ordered to pay compensation to Laly’s family, although the judge emphasised this could never replace the loss of a mother.
Carlos Arencibia Medina, the family’s lawyer, remarked that this case revealed serious management failures and highlighted the necessity for medical professionals to have immediate access to relevant patient data during emergencies. The ruling allows for an appeal, but it signals a potentially significant shift in procedures within the Canary Health Service, ensuring better access to pre-hospital assessment documents in the future.
