Overview
- On Friday, June 5, 2026, the Rome pretrial judge ordered four doctors to stand trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter in the 2023 death of journalist Andrea Purgatori.
- The accused are radiologist Gianfranco Gualdi, his assistant Claudio Di Biasi, colleague Maria Chiara Colaiacomo, and cardiologist Guido Laudani, who face allegations of diagnostic and treatment errors.
- Prosecutors rely on an expert inquiry that concluded Purgatori died of an unrecognized infective endocarditis rather than his tumour, and they say the chain of errors began with a disputed MRI on May 8, 2023 that was not properly reported.
- The judge authorised civil-liability claims against the two private clinics where Purgatori was treated, admitted an insurance company into the case, and recognised the family’s right to join as civil plaintiffs.
- The first trial date has been set for 12 January and the proceedings will determine criminal responsibility, potential damages for the family, and may influence how medical diagnostic failures are handled in future cases.