Medical Council reject claims in little girl's death

The Medical Council has replied to a judicial protest by the parents of a two-year-old girl who died from meningitis, saying all allegations made against them are unfounded. Aimee Abela died of meningitis in February 2011. The parents, Jacqueline and Carlo Abela, had complained that although they were told that the death of their daughter Aimee was to be investigated by the Medical Council, they were never asked to testify, despite the importance of their testimony. In their reply the Medical Council said it never opened any inquiry regarding the seven doctors who are currently charged with the child's involuntary homicide. The Council never had any contact with the parents and never informed them of any inquiry. To date, it had not received any form of written complaint from the parents and the case had not been referred to the Council by any government department or entity. The Council said it was holding the parents responsible for damages. Chief Government Medical Officer Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat told The Times last month that a the decision not to refer to the council was taken because “prima facie there did not appear to be medical negligence”.