Amid escalating fallout from Health Minister Ximena Aguilera's mother's expedited surgery at Hospital del Salvador—which displaced a patient who died days later—opposition lawmakers and the Christian Democrats are intensifying calls for her resignation. The Medical College has demanded an impartial investigation into the prioritization.
Following initial reports of Lucía Sanhueza Vargas's emergency hip surgery on December 31 prioritizing her over waiting patients, including one who died three days later, new reactions have emerged.
Deputy Eric Aedo (DC), Chamber vice president, called the situation 'unsustainable' politically and ethically: 'Prioritizing one's own family (...) while others remain on the waiting list, with a person who died from not being treated, makes the minister's political situation unsustainable.' He urged a Public Prosecutor's Office investigation and suggested Aguilera step aside to protect President Gabriel Boric's image ahead of the March 11 transition to José Antonio Kast.
Lawmakers criticized Aguilera's explanations as contradicting documents and noted such transparency 'could have been done from the beginning.' Senator Claudia Pascual (PC) supported resignation if evidence warrants it.
The Medical College demanded full clarification of all antecedents, protocols, and responsibilities in an impartial probe. This scandal highlights public health waitlist issues in Boric's final days.
