Five healthcare workers assigned to the Neonatology Service at Hospital Luis Razetti in Barinas were released on Thursday, 20 August under judicial conditions to continue their trial outside of prison. Dr Harry Sánchez, head of neonatology services, and nurses Yellimar Neira, Nohelia Solórzano, Yismary García and Belmary Ciro had been held in custody in connection with a case involving a newborn who suffered third-degree burns.
The burns occurred after an improvised lamp, used to provide therapeutic heat, fell from where it was mounted and struck the newborn's body while he was in his crib. The Barinas Municipality Police initiated proceedings against seven healthcare workers, two of whom—nurses—were released with full freedom on Monday, 17 August after a presentation hearing was held in the sixth control court of the Criminal Judicial Circuit of Barinas.
The five remaining staff members have a substitute measure of freedom requiring them to appear before the courts on a monthly basis. To obtain their release, they were required to provide a guarantor as security for their remaining in the country during the judicial proceedings.
An eighth staff member from the Neonatology Services at Hospital Razetti in Barinas, who was initially considered to be evading justice, turned himself in to the authorities and remains in custody.
