The mother of four-year-old Marios has called for accountability over the medical handling of her son, who was declared brain dead after being diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.
Speaking during a protest outside Limassol General Hospital on Monday morning, she alleged that mistakes had been made before the diagnosis and vowed to pursue the case “to the end”.
Protest outside Limassol hospital
Dozens of people gathered outside the hospital in support of the family, calling for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s treatment.
The mother said responsibility should be assigned wherever the investigation establishes wrongdoing.
“I will take this to the end,” she said.
She also called for anyone found responsible to face criminal consequences, saying that “whoever deserves to go to prison should be put in prison with the murderers”.
‘I would have become his eyes’
Referring to the final days before her son was declared brain dead, the mother said she had been told on 13 July that everything would be fine.
The following day, she alleged, she was informed in front of the child that he would lose his sight.
“I would have accepted him being blind because I would still have had him with me. I would have become his eyes,” she said.
“But my child did not remain blind. He was left brain dead.”
She called on the authorities to ensure that the case is investigated with humanity and impartiality.
“The only thing this state has to do is deliver justice, this time with humanity and a hand on its heart, for a soul that has gone and for so many others who may be lost, or have already been lost, but whose families did not have the strength to speak out,” she said.
The mother reiterated that she would continue pursuing the case until any potential responsibility had been established.
Investigation by State Health Services Organisation
The State Health Services Organisation announced in late July that it had opened an investigation following the publication of the family’s allegations.
The organisation said it had taken note of the reports and launched the inquiry to establish the facts surrounding the case.
“The organisation expresses its sympathy to the child’s family and assures them that every relevant report is treated with the necessary seriousness, responsibility and objectivity, in accordance with the established procedures,” it said.
No further information has been released about the progress or findings of the investigation.
The inquiry is expected to examine the child’s medical history, the handling of the case and whether the relevant clinical protocols and procedures were followed.
