The Instruction Court number 1 of Toledo has initiated preliminary proceedings for a possible «undetermined» offense related to intoxications at the University Hospital of Toledo (HUT) linked to the presence of formaldehyde in its laboratories, requesting urgent reports from the hospital’s concessionaire and the Ministry of Health itself to provide information on these events and the current state of this laboratory, for which a precautionary measure is requested.
This judicial decision is based on a complaint from the CSIF union, which has taken legal action «to duly clarify the criminal responsibilities that may have been incurred by the individuals responsible for the University Hospital of Toledo.»
As stated in the court order, the facts resulting from previous actions suggest «the possible existence of an unspecified offense, according to articles 14.2 and 15 of the Criminal Procedure Law.»
«If the nature and circumstances of these facts and the individuals involved are not determined, it is appropriate to initiate preliminary proceedings,» the court order states.
In case of disagreement with this order, a motion for reform can be filed, and in addition, an appeal can be made within three business days. A direct appeal can also be filed within five business days.
These preliminary proceedings stem from the actions taken by the CSIF after «warning, denouncing, and demanding measures to safeguard the safety and health of workers, without the hospital center taking the necessary measures with the required urgency from the first cases of intoxication,» as reported by the union in a press release.
Since its opening, the Pathological Anatomy Laboratory has presented security deficiencies due to formaldehyde leaks, causing workers to experience symptoms such as eye irritation, skin irritation, nausea, vomiting, headaches, nosebleeds, and hoarseness on many occasions, according to the CSIF.
Formaldehyde is a highly toxic substance that can have mutagenic and carcinogenic effects, and in severe cases, even lead to death, the union reminds.
The deficiencies became «unsustainable» on November 27 when several professionals were intoxicated by inhaling formaldehyde, requiring them to seek medical attention from the mutual services, and one of them had to be hospitalized at HUT, as reported by CSIF.
As of December 18, there were over 17 professionals on sick leave, not only in the Pathological Anatomy Laboratory but also in adjacent laboratories such as Genetics, Microbiology, Hematology, and Biochemistry, as well as in other services like the Blood Bank.
Despite the HUT management being aware of the situation, «no preventive measures were taken.» CSIF filed a complaint with the Labor Inspection on December 19, which visited HUT on December 30.
EXTERNAL COMPANY
Between December 2024 and January 2025, an external specialized company conducted an evaluation, issuing a report on February 19 «showing that environmental exposure limits had been exceeded, detailing that with carcinogenic or mutagenic agents (formaldehyde), the non-appearance of serious and irreversible adverse effects cannot be guaranteed.»
Despite the report revealing «very high peaks of formaldehyde for January 27, 28, and 29, actions to eliminate or reduce exposure were not taken.» This resulted in a new mass intoxication between February 19 and 20, as reported by CSIF.
CSIF believes that not only was there negligent inaction but also professionals were blamed, arguing that the exposure effects were due to collective suggestion.
«It wasn’t until February 24 that the Labor Inspection closed the Pathological Anatomy Laboratory’s cutting room, to which HUT presented a Contingency Plan and the relocation of part of the laboratories.»
FUENTE