Chilean Hospital Workers Face Torture Charges in Shocking Abuse Case
A disturbing case of alleged abuse and torture within a Chilean hospital has led to the arrest of four individuals and sparked outrage. Two have been placed in preventive detention,while the othre two are under total house arrest,following a formal hearing on Friday,according to authorities.
The case centers around alleged aggressions suffered by a former employee of the San José Base Hospital in Osorno, Chile, between 2018 and 2020. Disturbing video records recently surfaced, depicting the accused allegedly tying, shaving, and burning the victim.
“The background and videos we coudl observe are much more eloquent… and decree a fairly active participation in the facts,” a senior official stated, explaining the court’s decision to detain two of the accused. The official further emphasized that those in preventive detention held positions of hierarchical superiority over both the victim and other participants, adding a significant dimension to the severity of the allegations.
The Osorno Guarantee Court’s decision follows a hearing led by Chief Prosecutor MarÃa Angélica de miguel. While satisfied with the detention of two individuals, the prosecutor’s office is also evaluating additional precautionary measures for the two placed under house arrest, including restrictions on travel and contact with the victim and their family.
The court differentiated between the accused, noting that the victim reportedly downplayed the duty of some individuals, stating they had offered protection. Another accused reportedly collaborated with the investigation, factors the judge considered when applying less restrictive measures.
Authorities were quick to dismiss claims that the incriminating videos had been previously submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office. According to the prosecutor, a complaint was filed in 2020 regarding injuries sustained by the victim in relation to one of the accused, but it involved a separate incident and did not include the now-public videos. “We never had access (to the videos),” the prosecutor affirmed, stating the office only became aware of the footage when it was published by the media.
A separate complaint regarding degrading treatment was filed in 2024, but lacked supporting evidence and remains open.
The charges against the four individuals are based on Article 150, letter A, of the Chilean Criminal Code, which specifically addresses the abuse of power by public employees in the request of torture. “These acts are one of the most degrading that there is with respect to a person, the most intimidating… and also denigrating as a human being,” the prosecutor explained.
The four individuals were arrested by the Research Brigade of Sexual Crimes (Brisex) of the Los Lagos PDI between Thursday and Friday.The Ministry of health has also requested the dismissal of all four officials, who had remained employed at the hospital despite the allegations.
the case raises serious questions about the work environment at the San José Base Hospital and whether hospital administrators were aware of the alleged abuse prior to the public release of the videos. The prosecutor stated they were unaware of any prior knowledge within the hospital re
Why did this happen? The abuse allegedly stemmed from a pattern of power dynamics and mistreatment of a former employee at the San José Base Hospital. The motivations behind the torture are still under investigation
