Surgeons smile and give the thumbs-up as they pose for a selfie with a patient who DIED days later after complications from surgery
The patient was re-admitted eights days after his 'routine' operation and died in hospital
A TEAM of medics who posed for a SELFIE with a patient who died days later are being investigated for negligence.
The picture shows two doctors in an operating theatre with patient Gino Pucciarelli, 48, shortly after his operation to treat his sleep apnoea.
The procedure at the hospital in Perugia, Italy was reportedly described as being a routine but delicate operation.
Architect Pucciarelli had his surgery on July 3, 2015 and was released the next day.
But when he experienced continued bleeding, he re-admitted eight days later and died the following day in hospital.
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His family were suspicious that doctors had been negligent and hired a lawyer to look into the matter.
Now the selfie will play a pivotal role as evidence with prosecutors bringing a charge of manslaughter against five doctors.
Pucciarelli had turned to the Santa Maria della Misericordia hospital, where he had been previously treated, because he had been impressed with the medical team.
Sleep apnoea is a regular interruption of breathing during sleep, which is caused by a variety of anatomical irregularities.
It is treated with surgery only after less invasive remedies have failed.
The type of surgery performed varies according to the exact cause of the apnoea.
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