45-Year-Old Dies After Cancelled Gastroscopy During Málaga Doctors' Strike

Conchi, a 45-year-old woman, died in Málaga after two gastroscopies were cancelled during a doctors' strike due to a lack of anesthesiologists. While the family blames the strike, experts note systemic staffing issues and cost-cutting measures that left hospitals without adequate coverage. The case highlights a long-standing shortage of anesthesiologist contracts and the debate over essential service minimums in Spain's healthcare system.

The case timeline: two cancellations and a complaint form

The family’s account, broadcast by Antena 3, reveals a devastating sequence. On June 8, Conchi visited the hospital with continuous vomiting from an infection. Medical staff allegedly referred her to a complaint form instead of treating her. The gastroscopy, a key test to identify the issue, was cancelled twice because no anesthesiologist was available. The 45-year-old died before the procedure could be performed. Her family holds the Málaga medical strike responsible.

It is important to clarify: gastroscopy does not always require an anesthesiologist. It can often be done with moderate sedation using propofol administered by the gastroenterologist. However, nuances matter. For patients with obesity, respiratory issues, or allergies, moderate sedation poses serious risks. If airway obstruction or apnea occurs, the endoscopist cannot manage both the patient and the procedure simultaneously. This distinction explains when an anesthesiologist is strictly necessary.

The real gap: no contracts, no anesthesiologists

The alarming detail emerges when examining staffing levels. There are qualified anesthesiologists, but no open positions. Hospitals have cut costs by shifting sedation duties to gastroenterologists, a practice some professionals consider routine and which has spread in recent years. The strike did not cause the coverage gap but exposed it. Recently, it was revealed that anesthesiologists in many centers did not even perform strike duties: they attended work, did not operate, and were paid. This image fuels anger among other groups, who argue that unionism does not fix operating rooms.

The debate on essential services is settled. While other roles, such as security guards or escorts, maintain 90% or 100% essential service levels, healthcare figures are much lower. Some argue that strikes in essential services should be banned, as in policing. But the uncomfortable question remains: if a single anesthesiologist must cover multiple operating rooms, the strike is only part of the problem. The system has operated for years with stagnant staffing, uncreated contracts, and increasing clinical pressure.

The best healthcare in the world, again

The official slogan, "the best healthcare in the world," sounds like sarcasm these days. Conchi’s family demands accountability and an investigation. Consulted professionals point to years of precariousness and cuts. Administrators insist on the labor conflict. Meanwhile, a 45-year-old woman’s file was closed with two cancellations and a complaint form. The final, shocking fact is that the anesthesiologist shortage is not new: it was known, warned about, and ignored. This time, the patient could not tell her story.