Health News

Panama appeals Spanish court dismissal of cough syrup scandal

Jun 7, 2011, 11:57 GMT

Madrid - Panama has appealed a Spanish court decision to shelve an investigation into a medical scandal that caused the death of hundreds of people in the Central American country, daily El Pais reported Tuesday.

A Barcelona-based retail company had imported nine tonnes of glycerine from China and used it in a cough mixture sold to Panama, where the authorities distributed it to low-income earners.

But the type of glycerine was not intended for human use, and at least 250 Panamanians have died since 2006, after taking the cough mixture.

Spanish National Court judge Ismael Moreno said the Spanish company which imported the glycerine was only an intermediary which could not be held responsible for the Chinese factory supplying it with the wrong type.

However, Panama's social security authorities and the lawyers of victims rejected the argument. The Spanish judiciary are expected to consider their appeal in coming days.