Panama Doctor Charged with Manslaughter Released after Mediation Agreement

Dr. Evelio Camaño, under investigation for alleged medical malpractice, was released and his legal proceedings suspended after the parties reached a mediation agreement during a multiple-request hearing held Thursday afternoon.  During the hearing, the judge upheld the doctor’s arrest, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office formally charged him with manslaughter. However, before the pretrial detention measures could be debated, the defense requested an alternative dispute resolution method, which resulted in an agreement between the parties.  If there is financial compensation, it must be paid within one month. 

As part of the imposed measures, the doctor must appear to sign in on the 2nd of each month at the Public Prosecutor’s Office notification center in Calidonia, in addition to remaining prohibited from leaving the country. This latter measure was appealed by the defense, and an appeal hearing was scheduled for February 5, 2026.  The case dates back to the death of 33-year-old Diego Padilla, who died on February 21, 2021, after initially being treated at the Social Security clinic in Arraiján for abdominal pain and subsequently transferred to the Nicolás A. Solano Regional Hospital in La Chorrera.

There, he underwent an exploratory laparotomy performed by Dr. Camaño. According to the autopsy, the cause of death was septic shock.  During the hearing, the prosecutor, Anabellis Jaén, presented as evidence a report from the Medical Ethics Council that points to flaws in the care protocol. Meanwhile, the victims’ lawyer, Rodolfo Fernández, indicated that there is evidence within the investigation that suggests possible malpractice in the medical procedure.