Overview

• The teacher from Mazara del Vallo died of cancer after waiting more than eight months for an urgent histology result following a December 2023 surgery.
• By the time the report was communicated in August 2024, the disease had progressed with widespread metastases and was at stage IV.
• Parliamentary scrutiny revealed 3,313 pathology reports were never delivered by Trapani’s health authority, including more than 200 that diagnosed cancer.
• The Prosecutor’s Office of Trapani is conducting a criminal investigation with 19 doctors and health personnel under inquiry, as Health Ministry inspectors documented serious processing delays.
• The scandal led to the resignation of ASP director Ferdinando Croce, and Mazara del Vallo declared a day of mourning with the funeral scheduled at the city’s cathedral.