Outrage in Bilbao: Pediatrician Reprimanded for Compassionate Care

Bilbao Pediatrician Reprimanded for Providing After-Hours Care to Dying Child A recent incident in Bilbao, Spain, has sparked a debate about the ethical obligations of healthcare professionals and the availability of adequate pediatric palliative care. Jesús Sánchez Exániz, a pediatrician at Cruces Hospital, was reprimanded by Osakidetza, the Basque Country's health service, for attending to a terminally ill four-year-old girl outside of his official working hours. He visited the child at her home on a weekend and at night, offering comfort and support to the child and her family. The reprimand, issued after the child's death, has generated widespread public support for Dr. Exániz. Many professionals and families have voiced concerns about the lack of 24/7 palliative care for children in the region. "It's unacceptable that a doctor who goes above and beyond to provide compassionate care is punished," stated one parent of a child who received palliative care. Dr. Exániz himself has reportedly gone on sick leave due to stress caused by the incident. This case highlights the critical need for comprehensive and readily accessible pediatric palliative care services. The public outcry underscores the importance of ethical considerations in healthcare, as well as the need for systems that support compassionate care, even outside of traditional working hours.