No conscientious objectors (2)

(ANSA) - Catania, October 24 - Conscientious objection was not a factor in the case of a woman who died in hospital after miscarrying twins, health ministry inspectors reported to Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin on Monday. Valentina Milluzzo, 34, died at Catania's Cannizzaro Hospital after the miscarriage of her unborn twins at the 19th week of pregnancy on October 16. Her family filed a complaint arguing that a conscientious objector doctor refused to operate in time to save her life. The inspectors said they found "no elements that can be correlated to conscientious objection" in the case. They said the miscarriage was "spontaneous, unstoppable", the emergency treatment was "appropriate for the risk conditions at the time of hospitalization", and nothing "abnormal" was discovered in the treatment. Lorenzin last Friday dispatched a team that included two members named by the ministry, a Carabiniere police officer from the NAS health unit, and two experts from the Sicilian regional government to ascertain what happened.
    Catania prosecutors last Thursday placed 12 doctors from the city hospital's obstetrical and gynaecological department under investigation on suspicion of multiple manslaughter in the deaths of Milluzzo and the twin fetuses.
    Sources said the move was a formality following the complaint from the woman's family.
    The suspects are all the department's staff excluding head surgeon Paolo Scollo and his assistant Emilio Lomeo, who were absent.
    Catania prosecutors said they had ascertained that the doctor who allegedly refused to operate was not registered as a conscientious objector in the medical files.
    Miluzzo was pregnant thanks to assisted fertility treatment.