Nurse Acquitted of Faking Vaccinations Due to Mental Disorder

The Bizkaia Court has acquitted a nurse from the Kabiezes health center in Santurtzi, who was accused of pretending to vaccinate over 400 minors between 2021 and 2022. The court concluded that the nurse suffered from a delusional disorder that significantly impaired her judgment. In a ruling released this Tuesday, the court acknowledged that her condition included messianic, esoteric, and mystical elements that prevented her from differentiating reality from her beliefs. As a result, she was found completely exempt from criminal responsibility due to mental health issues. Despite her acquittal, the court has mandated that she undergo seven years of external medical treatment under psychiatric supervision and has imposed a seven-year disqualification from practicing in the public health sector. Furthermore, the nurse is required to compensate Osakidetza, the Basque public health service, with 20,000 euros for the costs associated with revaccinating the 404 minors assigned to her. During the trial, the prosecution revised its initial demand for a 75-year prison sentence, taking into account forensic evaluations that pointed to her severe mental disorder. The court found evidence that, between February 2021 and September 2022, the nurse falsely recorded vaccines as administered in both the digital system and the children's vaccination records, without actually inoculating them or doing so improperly. The case draws significant concern as serological tests indicated that at least 38 minors lacked antibodies for critical vaccines, including MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), chickenpox, and tetanus. Observations made by parents also raised alarms regarding the unusual speed of the vaccination process and the absence of any post-vaccination side effects in their children. Given the apparent public health risks stemming from her actions, the court has decided to send a report to the Minister of Justice to consider criminally regulating similar conduct, which is currently not defined as a health crime or an offense by public officials. The ruling is not final and remains subject to appeal at the High Court of Justice of the Basque Country. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2