Overview

• The 56-year-old teacher from Mazara del Vallo waited about eight months for a post-surgery histology report, learning in August 2024 that her cancer had advanced to stage four.
• Her complaint exposed roughly 3,300 withheld or delayed pathology reports at the Trapani health authority, including hundreds that identified cancer.
• Nineteen health workers are under investigation on allegations ranging from omissions to manslaughter, and court-appointed experts are conducting an evidentiary assessment.
• National and regional inspectors reported serious organizational failures, including a nonfunctioning tracking system and the absence of backlog protocols.
• The cathedral in Mazara del Vallo was filled for her funeral, with local officials attending and the mayor declaring a day of mourning.