Seven years after the facts, the case of the death of little Gabin is once again brought to justice. In November 2019, the parents of this 22-month-old baby, who died of hunger in 2013, were sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment. Thursday is the trial of the family doctor which begins before the criminal court of Guéret. While he has examined the child seven times but never made a report, he is accused of failing to assist someone at risk.
On June 7, 2013, the child had been admitted to the emergency room in a state of "extreme dehydration" and "apparent death", and had not been able to be resuscitated despite 40 minutes of cardio-respiratory massage. Gabin no longer walked and weighed only 5.8 kg, the weight of a 3 month old infant.
Doctor faces 7 years in prison
For Yves Crespin, lawyer for the association L'Enfant bleu, civil party, this trial must lead to an awareness of the medical profession. "We know that doctors are reluctant to make reports. 5% of reports received by the courts or the administration come from doctors", he explains at the microphone of Europe 1. According to him, these professionals "fear prosecution disciplinary, that complaints are filed against them by parents or third parties who will accuse them of the violation of professional secrecy or the breakdown of a relationship of trust. "
"This trial must allow doctors to realize that they are the first to be able to protect children," concludes Yves Crespin. The doctor faces 7 years in prison and a fine of 100,000 euros.