BARI, April 28 – A probative incident commenced today at the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Polyclinic of Bari, concerning the two hearts of Domenico Caliendo, the child who passed away at Monaldi Hospital in Naples on February 21, following a transplant on December 23. The judge’s panel of experts, in the presence of the family’s consultants and the seven doctors under investigation, examined both organs involved in the transplant: the deteriorated heart that arrived from Bolzano and the diseased organ explanted from the child. The examination is scheduled to continue on June 10.
Investigation into the Hearts of Domenico Caliendo
In the preceding days, the investigating judge of Naples, Mariano Sorrentino, had granted the request from lawyer Francesco Petruzzi, representing the Caliendo family, to include the child’s diseased heart among the biological exhibits to be examined by the court-appointed experts during the probative incident.
Defense Consultant: “Microscopic Examinations in June”
“The opening examinations of both hearts have been completed. We will have the initial data on June 10; it’s too early now. We have viewed them macroscopically; now the microscopic examination will take place on June 10, and then we will be able to tell you more. Anything said now would lack scientific basis,” stated Vittorio Fineschi, a forensic doctor and consultant to cardiac surgeon Guido Oppido. Oppido is under investigation for culpable homicide along with six other colleagues regarding Domenico Caliendo’s death. Two doctors are also being investigated for falsification.
Caliendo Family Doctor: “Understand Heart Lesions and Pre-operative State”
Luca Scognamiglio, the forensic doctor and consultant for Domenico Caliendo’s family, emphasized, “One key aspect is certainly what organ lesion will be documented, whether it’s a freezing lesion or not. These are important issues that may emerge from the heart analysis. And what was Domenico’s pre-transplant state? This is another important piece of information we expect to emerge during these examinations.”
GIP’s 12 Questions
The experts delegated by the Naples investigating judge are tasked with reconstructing the events in the operating room at Monaldi Hospital and reporting “in case of ‘unjustified’ discrepancies” from the guidelines that should have been followed. They are required to answer 12 technical questions. Among other things, the experts will analyze the procedures for explanting and transporting the heart from Bolzano to Naples, and the removal of Domenico’s diseased heart at Monaldi, verifying any errors made by the team. The judge has asked the expert panel to assess the adequacy of the choices made, with particular reference to the cardiectomy, specifically verifying if it could have been performed before the arrival of the transplant organ. With the aim of identifying the possibility of “a different clinical evolution,” the experts have also been asked to outline any alternative courses of action that could have been taken after the transplant failure.
Ongoing Investigation in Naples
Meanwhile, the investigation into the case continues in Naples. A new round of preliminary interrogations is scheduled for May 8 as part of the ongoing judicial proceedings. Before Easter, assisted by their respective lawyers, and following the Naples Public Prosecutor’s request for an interdiction measure for the crime of falsification (in relation to the modification of the child’s medical record), cardiac surgeon Guido Oppido and his deputy Emma Bergonzoni underwent a first preliminary interrogation before investigating judge Mariano Sorrentino.
The simultaneous submission of a memorandum by the cardiac surgeon’s lawyers on that same day led investigators to re-interview some healthcare professionals, including the perfusionists and a specialized professional nurse, as informed persons, and to produce additional evidence to support the request for a precautionary measure. This also followed the acquisition of another video from the mobile phone of an orderly who was present in the operating room on the day of the transplant.
Source: https://tg24.sky.it/cronaca/2026/04/28/domenico-bambino-cuore-napoli-ultime-news
