Family of coma victim wins 21-year battle for court retrial

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the reopening of the case of Antonio Meño, a 42-year-old man who was left in a coma after a rhinoplasty operation in 1989.

Meño's family appealed to the court for a revision of the case after a new witness came forward earlier this year. Ignacio Frade, then a trainee doctor at the Nuestra Señora de América clinic in Madrid, gave testimony on November 3 explaining that Meño encountered breathing difficulties before the operation and that on arrival in the theater the anesthetist noticed a dislodged respiratory tube. The hospital claimed that Meño had choked on his own vomit after surgery.

The Supreme Court quashed previous rulings, permitting a retrial and absolving the family of

400,000 euro costs. "I still can't believe it," said Juana Ortega Meño, who has kept vigil with her son outside the Justice Ministry for over 500 days. "If there's an ounce of humanity [from the clinic], we'll reach an extrajudicial agreement," the family's lawyer said.