The National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH) issues a recommendation to the ISSSTE for medical negligence following the death of a patient.
MEXICO CITY (apro).- The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) issued a recommendation to the Institute of Social Security and Services for State Workers (ISSSTE) for deficiencies in medical care that led to the death of a person in May 2023.
Medical negligence is an issue that affects thousands of people each year in Mexican hospitals, both in the public and private sectors. According to data from the National Commission for Medical Arbitration (Conamed), 17,358 clinical complaints were received in 2019, of which only 8% (1,410) resulted in formal complaints.
The annual average of court cases related to medical negligence is 37, according to the Federal Judicial Council (CJF). In most of them, there is no definitive sanction for the responsible physician, other than compensation.
In recommendation 54/2025, released on April 28, 2025, the CNDH detailed that the victim received inadequate and untimely medical care upon admission to the Emergency Department at the “Gral. Ignacio Zaragoza” Regional Hospital (HR) of the ISSSTE in Mexico City.
On May 13, 2023, the patient went to the hospital with pain in her arm and chest. The hospital staff performed an electrocardiogram, and after the initial assessment, she was discharged, despite presenting severe symptoms and a significant medical history.
During the journey home, the patient experienced difficulty breathing, so he immediately returned to the HR for medical attention.
In the emergency room waiting room, he suddenly lost consciousness. Staff determined he no longer had vital signs and began performing CPR, which was unsuccessful.
The deficiencies in the care and clinical assessment of the person's health status contributed to a late diagnosis of the heart attack he suffered, the CNDH explained.
The family members' complaint was filed with the agency on April 21, 2023, but received a response almost two years later.
Through #Recommendation 54/2025, we confirmed deficiencies in medical care by @ISSSTE_mx , which resulted in the death of a person in #CDMX .
— CNDH in Mexico (@CNDH) April 28, 2025
??See the full Recommendation: https://t.co/nzSvr5SxcC #DefendemosAlPueblo pic.twitter.com/LMoAqJbayx
The CNDH determined a violation of the victim's human rights due to several irregularities in her medical record, such as the lack of important records and incomplete medical notes, negatively affecting her diagnosis.
The court concluded that the victim received improper medical care, which "resulted in cardiorespiratory arrest, anoxo-ischemic encephalopathy, a coma, and complications such as ventilator-associated pneumonia and septic shock, which ultimately led to his death on May 10, 2023."
The CNDH recommended that ISSSTE offer psychological and/or thanatological care to indirect victims (family members) of the events, which should be provided free of charge.
In addition, he requested collaboration with the investigating authority in the administrative file to determine responsibilities.
Within a period of no more than six months, ISSSTE must provide a comprehensive course on human rights training and education to emergency personnel, which considers the principles of accessibility, acceptability, availability, and quality, related to the right to health protection.
It must also designate a public servant as a liaison with the CNDH to monitor compliance with the recommendations.
Medical malpractice cases occur through abuse, omissions, administrative errors, diagnostic errors, and other incidents that affect patients' health. They are common among those seeking healthcare services at clinics and hospitals.
According to the specialized website Redacción Médica, their frequency is so high that cases have become normalized and invisible, to the point that 80% of them go unreported. Medical errors can contribute significantly to mortality rates and highlight the urgent need for systemic reforms.
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