Juan Maeso was an anesthetist who worked in several hospitals in Valencia between the late 80s and 90s. His name was marked in Spanish judicial history after being considered responsible for a massive hepatitis C contagion that affected 275 patients.
The case became the largest outbreak of hospital transmission of this disease recorded in Spain.
How the case was discovered: an anomalous pattern of infections
The origin of the case is located in 1998, when multiple hepatitis C infections began to be detected in different healthcare centers. The contagions were registered in:
- Hospital The Faith
- House of Health
- Quirón Clinic
- Virgin of Consolation
The investigation determined that all the cases had a common origin.
What happened: the practice that caused the infections
During the trial it was concluded that the anesthetist injected himself with part of the anesthetics he was supposed to administer to patients and reused the material. That practice was considered the route of transmission of the virus.
Genetic experts demonstrated that the viruses present in the patients had the same origin, which led to identifying Maeso as the “sole source” of the outbreak.
The mega-trial: one of the most complex in Spain
The judicial process began in 2005 and was one of the most extensive in the healthcare sector. The case file exceeded 22,000 pages, 153 lawyers participated, more than 600 witnesses testified, and it was necessary to set up a special room in the City of Justice of Valencia to be able to hold the trial.
The sentence: 1,933 years in prison
In 2007, the Provincial Court of Valencia sentenced Juan Maeso to 1,933 years in prison. The sentence also established compensations exceeding 20 million euros, with the Generalitat as subsidiary civil responsible party. In 2009, the Supreme Court confirmed the conviction.
Prison and release on parole
Maeso served more than 15 years in prison. In 2023, he was released on parole due to his state of health, after having previously moved to the third degree. His medical condition progressively worsened until his death in 2026 at the age of 84.
A case that marked Spanish healthcare
The Maeso case had a profound impact on the healthcare system and on hospital safety protocols. It highlighted the need to strengthen controls in the use of medical material, as well as internal supervision mechanisms in hospitals. It also opened a debate about institutional responsibility in this type of cases.
The death of the anesthetist reopens interest in a case that marked hundreds of victims and their families.