Death of Domenico Caliendo, compensation to the family of almost one million euros

Compensation of almost one million euros to the family of Domenico Caliendo, the two and a half year old boy who died on February 21st in Naples after a failed heart transplant. As stated in the resolution of the Colli hospital company, which among others also includes the Monaldi hospital at the center of the matter, the compensation amounts to 960 thousand euros. Added to these are also the legal costs of 41,625 euros for the family's lawyer. According to what is reported in the provision, however, the compensation "does not constitute recognition or ascertainment of the personal responsibility of the individual healthcare workers or other subjects involved in the matter". In the meantime, the Naples prosecutor's office continues to investigate the case and, currently, seven Monaldi doctors are under investigation for complicit manslaughter.

The death of Domenico Caliendo

Domenico Caliendo was almost two and a half years old when, on December 23, 2025, he underwent a heart transplant at the Monaldi hospital. The organ had arrived from Bolzano, but during the transfer it had been stored incorrectly: refrigerated with dry ice and placed in a refrigerator box that did not comply with the guidelines. The low temperatures had compromised the heart, making it effectively unusable. The operation was performed anyway but the child died on February 21st due to the consequences of the transplant.

Compensation

As the lawyer for the little patient's family, Francesco Petruzzi, explained to Corriere della Sera, the agreement does not include all possible damages, therefore excluding those linked to a possible crime of forgery and the costs of medico-legal investigations incurred by the family during the investigations. For this reason, according to the lawyer, the Caliendo family will still be able to take civil action in the possible trial for manslaughter and request further compensation.

Manager Monaldi: "After the case, no drop in hospitalizations"

Meanwhile, the general director of the Colli di Napoli hospital, Anna Iervolino, declared that "from the data we have we do not record either a drop in hospitalizations or a drop in activities". On the occasion of the inauguration of the new Uoc Heart Transplant department, Iervolino underlined that "we went through an extremely difficult moment, but Monaldi's activities never stopped. Unfortunately the need for health does not stop and we continued to work. It was a painful moment and today our thoughts go to all the people who suffered". We too have suffered, but it is important to look forward and reassure citizens: the hospital is there, it has reacted well to the media shocks and we are ready to continue writing the history of healthcare in Campania", he added.