A 31-year-old woman with a disability, who was a resident at a facility run by the Aspanas organization in A Peroxa, Ourense, suffered second-degree burns after a routine bath when the water temperature was not checked and the patient’s complaints were ignored. The victim, legally considered incapacitated, required hospital care at Povisa in Vigo following the incident.
The caregiver responsible for the injuries faced a trial at the Ourense Penal Court Number 1. She acknowledged the facts, and the prosecution, the private accuser, and the defense reached a formal agreement that effectively resolved the proceedings without a full trial.
The defendant, aged 29, agreed to a sentence of one year in prison and a twelve-month special disqualification that bars her from any profession or activity involving care for third parties. Because she has no prior criminal record, it is likely that the prison term will be suspended. The victim had already received compensation from the insurer prior to the trial, totaling €51,000.
She violated “the most basic standards of caution and care, both totally and absolutely.”
The incident occurred on June 6, 2022, around 10 p.m., during the caregiver’s hygiene duties for that shift. The person who prepared the case acknowledged that she failed to check the water temperature while bathing the patient and ignored the patient’s complaints. She also did nothing to address the redness the patient already displayed and avoided any measures to assess the injuries further. The patient’s condition escalated without timely intervention.
The victim was first taken to the Coles Primary Care Center and later received treatment at the Ourense hospital. That same night, she was transferred to the burn unit at Povisa in Vigo.
The injured individual sustained second-degree burns to the legs, buttocks, and perineal area. She required ongoing hospital monitoring, wound care, analgesics, and anti-inflammatory medication. Forensic reports indicate that a total of 179 days were necessary for the stabilization of the injuries, and the patient is left with permanent scarring.