"Burned Heart", the Domenico Caliendo Foundation is born: parents of the operated children continue to defend Oppido

Immediately after signing the deed of incorporation of the Domenico Caliendo Foundation, mother Patrizia Mercolino let her emotions flow: "I remembered that the idea came to me when I was with my son on the intensive care bed, when I called the lawyer and told him: 'Domenico is about to die.' From today, she is the president of the foundation. And she had already announced: "Domenico will not be forgotten." The establishment of the entity thus represents the first step in keeping the promise made to her son.

Since the announcement of the imminent establishment, numerous donations have already arrived, almost exclusively from private individuals, totaling approximately 45 thousand euros.

The statute of the foundation not only puts in writing the maternal love and the suffering of an entire family, but it is also a statute that speaks of justice. Among the objectives, as explained by lawyer and vice president Petruzzi, is "legal assistance to families, including those that do not meet the requirements for free legal aid. We will have broader thresholds than those provided," he specifies and adds: "With us, people will be able to find a legal support to turn to."

The commitment is therefore directed towards families who are victims of alleged cases of medical malpractice who encounter difficulties in covering the costs of legal action. Public initiatives aimed at raising awareness and fundraising are also planned: among these, an event at the San Carlo Theatre in Naples is also being organized.

Meanwhile, the Fico Board, in today's session, has decided on the transfer of the technical-administrative functions of the Regional Transplant Center to the General Directorate for Health Protection of the Region. It also orders the suspension of the pediatric heart transplant program of the Colli Hospital Company, "which cannot resume until the full verification of the organizational, professional, and safety conditions, to be carried out within 180 days." The executive has finally provided that the same General Directorate reports on the outcomes of the inspection activity, also involving the competent ministerial offices, to allow subsequent determinations regarding the possible resumption of transplant activities.

Today, a new clash between parents took place. The families of the 186 children with heart conditions treated by Dr. Oppido are once again rallying around the heart surgeon who is currently, in addition to the charge of involuntary manslaughter, being investigated, along with colleague Emma Bergonzoni, for falsification of the medical records of the young Domenico regarding the timing of the heart's arrival. "For us, Professor Oppido, to whom we will always express our gratitude, is an excellent heart surgeon and, above all, is a professional innocent until a final verdict." This is a pointed remark directed at the lawyer of the Mercolino family - Caliendo, who considers Oppido "from current suspect to soon-to-be defendant."