The family of a 28-year-old pregnant woman who died at the hospital in Arta, northwestern Greece, after suffering an allergic reaction to antibiotics has filed a lawsuit against all responsible parties. The woman, who was already a mother to a young child, had gone to the emergency unit with pain and bleeding, symptoms of a threatened miscarriage.

The family’s lawyer announced that the legal claim concerns “a homicide committed by omission,” pointing to shortages at the hospital, possible failures in management, and lack of clarity about the treatment administered.

“We don’t know which antibiotic was given. An internal investigation was ordered, but not an autopsy. All we have is a death certificate,” she said.

Confusion over the antibiotics used

According to the family’s lawyer, there was disagreement among doctors about which antibiotic to administer. One warned that the chosen drug could trigger cardiac arrest, while another insisted it was standard practice.

The antibiotics were reportedly given by a nurse following a doctor’s instructions over the phone. Before that, the woman had been given pain relief medication, raising questions about whether there was a dangerous interaction between the two drugs.

Collapse and failed resuscitation

The woman quickly went into anaphylactic shock. Doctors attempted resuscitation and intubation, but her condition worsened. Despite efforts in intensive care, she died within hours.

The hospital’s administration has launched an internal inquiry, while the family insists on a full investigation into the circumstances of her hospitalization and whether doctors reacted promptly when she first showed signs of allergic shock.

Reactions from medical experts

Commenting on the case, Matina Pagoni, president of the Greek Medical Association and vice president of the national hospital doctors’ union, stressed that while such fatal allergic reactions are rare, they can happen.

Meanwhile, questions have been raised about staffing levels at the hospital, with critics pointing to possible gaps in medical coverage.