Bereaved, the brothers and son of Patricia Urcel filed a complaint against X, on March 30 for manslaughter and non-assistance to a person in danger. Patricia Urcel was 54 and did not survive Covid-19. She contracted the disease last September.

Her condition quickly deteriorated, she found herself out of breath. At that time, Patricia contacted the Samu but it was only after the third call that the emergency services moved. Too late, according to her family, since Patricia died a few hours later in hospital from a cardiopulmonary arrest.

“Samu is not above the law”

The relatives of Patricia still do not understand the position of the regulation of the Samu. It is also the first family to file an individual complaint. Their incomprehension is shared by their lawyer. “This positioning, this pro-activity to do nothing is incomprehensible, especially as the regulatory doctor does not report a lack of human resources” denounces Anaïs Mehiri.

If the prosecutor decides, an investigation will study the position of the doctor-regulator. Its mission is to “Offer each patient the most suitable treatment path for their condition” explains François Braun, president of the Samu-Urgences union in France.

But that doesn’t mean than the Samu and the doctors are “Above the law (…) They must account for their actions when asked of them and a fortiori by justice” specifies François Braun. The prosecutor has until June 29, 2021 to decide whether or not to seize an investigating judge in this case.