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NAPLES, Italy — Public outrage is growing in Italy following the death of a two-year-old boy after a heart transplant was reportedly compromised during transport. The case has sparked a national investigation into potential medical malpractice.
Domenico, the toddler, died on Saturday, February 21, 2026, after weeks in intensive care at a hospital in Naples. The tragedy centers on a donor heart that sustained damage while being transported approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles) from Bolzano, in northern Italy.
According to reports, the heart came from a child who died in a drowning accident. The incident is raising questions about organ donation protocols and the preservation of vital organs during transit.
Heart Arrived in “Burned” Condition
Italian media reports indicate the donor organ was transported in an unsuitable container and without a thermometer to monitor its temperature. The heart reportedly came into direct contact with dry ice during the journey, leading to suspected damage from extreme cold.
Francesco Petruzzi, the family’s lawyer, stated the heart arrived in a condition “burned by frostbite,” according to the BBC.
Domenico had been reliant on respiratory support since the operation. His condition had been closely followed by the Italian public, and his death has prompted widespread grief and calls for answers.
“It’s over. Domenico is gone,” his mother, Patrizia Mercolino, told Italian media, as reported by the AFP news agency.
Mercolino announced plans to establish a foundation in her son’s name.
Italian Health Minister Orazio Schillaci described the case as having “shocked all of Italy,” according to local media reports. The minister also expressed concern that the incident could lead to a decline in organ donation rates in the country.
Schillaci has called for “clarity” to maintain public trust in the national healthcare system.
Local prosecutors are currently investigating six medical personnel for potential negligence related to the transplant procedure. The development underscores the critical importance of maintaining stringent protocols in organ transplantation to ensure patient safety and public confidence.
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