Spiriman, three years on: doctor, critic of Andalusia and vaccine advocate

Spiriman, three years on: the doctor who died at 46 and still divides

Jesús Candel died at 46 from lung cancer. Three years later, his figure still splits opinion: for some he was the doctor who stood up to the Junta de Andalucía (Andalusian regional government) and prevented the closure of Granada's Clínico hospital; for others, he was the professional who during the pandemic called those who refused vaccination crazy, selfish and killers. Both truths fit in the same man. Neither is erased by death.

What no one disputes is his record of activism. A family doctor with a military background, he became known for leading protests against the dismantling of Granada's hospital network, a plan that, according to observers, the socialist regional government began executing while the professional association looked away. The citizen mobilization he led halted the hospital merger and peine specialist services. Hence the nickname by which he is known across much of Spain.

Lung cancer and the tobacco controversy

The official cause of death was lung cancer. And here the first conflict begins. Some argue that a doctor who smoked for decades — born in 1976, when warnings were already on cigarette packs — could not afford an exemplary stance. The response came quickly: some claim Candel never smoked, and clinically it is noted that lung cancer also occurs in non-smokers, with radon gas exposure being a primary cause in that group.

The fact that confuses both sides is that he had previously beaten the tumor. The relapse, and the outcome, came later. All kinds of theories have been built around this sequence, from the stress of lawsuits and complaints to suspicions of manipulation that lack any evidence. It should be stated clearly: these are unsupported speculations.

UAPO and the phrase that cost him credibility

Candel set up UAPO, a unit designed to complement oncological treatments with sport, nutrition and psychological support. From there emerged his most quoted phrase: he who wants to heal, heals. Taken out of context, it sounds like nonsense. His defenders maintain that he never said cancer is cured by willpower alone, but that facing it with optimism improves treatment success rates, noting that he himself underwent chemotherapy. Critics, however, recall that such messages fuel the idea that attitude replaces medicine. The debate remains open because the person concerned can no longer clarify it.

Elbichito, the line that changed everything

If anything marked his legacy, it was the pandemic. Candel publicly defended vaccination with an argument he repeated: I believe in vaccines because I believe in scientific evidence. He fiercely attacked those who questioned health measures. This earned him the hatred of part of the population that until then had put him on a pedestal. "I do not forgive the apartheid he promoted against me," summarizes one of the most repeated viewpoints. Others place him directly among public figures who fell from grace due to their handling of the health crisis.

The result is an impossible figure to categorize. He denounced corruption within the Junta, confronted his own peers and ended up targeted by those who once applauded him. Some argue he was just another corporatist, defending the interests of his profession. Others respond that he resigned from positions, dismantled management units and risked his career against the administration. Again, both things in the same man.

Threats, pressure and an open ending

His activism had a personal cost. According to various accounts, threatening messages were left at his door while his minor children were inside. That climate of pressure, combined with legal proceedings and public weariness, forms part of the narrative of those who believe the tension took a physical toll. It is a hypothesis, not a diagnosis. And it must be read as such.

Three years later, the question is not whether Candel was a saint or a demon. The question is why a family doctor became the scourge of a regional ministry, the idol of some and the sworn enemy of others. No one has filled his void. And that, in a country where public healthcare is debated via headlines, says a lot about the kind of figure he was.