The woman with terminal cancer who allegedly suffered sexual abuse by another patient at Puerto Montt Hospital, in the Los Lagos region, died in the early hours of Wednesday, October 14. The hospital confirmed her death.
According to BioBioChile, the patient’s condition worsened in the days after the incident. Her son, Richard Espinoza, told Radio Bío Bío in Puerto Montt that his mother "experienced a deterioration in her condition" and that she died at 11:52 at night.
The victim was from Calbuco, a coastal municipality about 55 kilometers from Puerto Montt. According to T13, she had chronic liver damage and had been in the final stage of her cancer for around five months. Her condition also left her disoriented.
The family reported that a doctor at the hospital caught the man committing acts of a sexual nature against her. The accused is an 80-year-old man who uses a wheelchair and was arrested after the doctor raised the alarm.
The events took place on the premises of the former Seminario hospital, which remain in operation as part of Puerto Montt Hospital. The hearing to review the detention and formally bring charges was suspended while information about the accused’s health is gathered. The sources do not indicate a new date.
In a statement, the hospital offered its condolences to the family and said the patient died of causes associated with her illness, according to her clinical records. The hospital added that the investigation into the allegations is in the hands of the Prosecutor’s Office, which must clarify the events and determine whether anyone is responsible.
The hospital also announced support and emotional care for the family, increased security and an internal administrative investigation. It did not specify deadlines for those measures or detail what the increased security entails. The accused remains presumed innocent unless convicted.
