She wants to "continue the fight" of her husband, who "could not go to the end". And this fight, it is in the courts that Claire Loupiac intends to lead it, after the death of her husband, Eric Loupiac, emergency doctor at the hospital of Lons-le-Saunier (Jura) and union representative of the AMUF , carried by the Covid-19 on April 24.
This mother of three intends to file a complaint for "endangering the life of others" against the director of the establishment where her husband practiced, Guillaume Ducolomb. But also against the regional health agency (ARS) of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, headed by Pierre Pribile, and against the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, and his predecessor, Agnès Buzyn, for their management of the health crisis. Interview.
Why file a complaint against the hospital management and the ARS?
CLAIRE LOUPIAC. My husband was infected the weekend of March 7, during a call to the emergency department of the hospital in Lons-le-Saunier, where he has been practicing for twelve years. When he came back from his guard, he explained his working conditions to me. Mistakes were made which put staff at risk. There was not enough protective equipment. Except for the samples, the staff only had simple surgical masks at their disposal.
My husband had asked for an airlock to sort out suspected Covid patients or not. But the positives were in the waiting room, without a mask. So inevitably, the virus has spread, like that, throughout the service. My husband was infected like this. It is not tolerable.
Finally, because of budget cuts, there were not enough doctors, not enough nurses, not enough caregivers, and not enough beds for the sick. Suddenly the patients of Covid-10 are crowded in the corridors. Many have been contaminated like this, in the emergency hallways.
What do you think proves that the hospital is responsible for the contamination of your husband?
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They are two doctors, a nurse and a nursing assistant who fell ill during the same weekend. My husband is an original military doctor. He worked at the Paris fire brigade. He graduated in emergency medicine and disaster medicine. He has a fairly high competence and a lot of experience. So he knew very well how to handle a situation at risk of infection.
In addition, my husband and I were confined to our apartment, from February 26. We didn't go out, we only did the shopping by delivery. My husband was just taking his car to take care. He was just 60 years old. He had no illnesses. It is said everywhere that it is especially a serious virus for diabetics, for hypertensive people, for elderly people ... Not at all! He was athletic, non-smoking and had no chronic illnesses.
Why do you plan to attack the government?
The French population has been put in danger. At the end of February, at the beginning of March, masks were not to be worn ... and at the end of April, the mask became compulsory: if the patients had returned to the hospital with masks, my husband would still be there. I also believe that the confinement arrived too late. We were confined from February 26.
Do you not count on the parliamentary commission of inquiry to have answers, rather on the courts?
No. I think I will have explanations from management when the investigation begins. With all the evidence that will be established, it is obvious that we will find the flaw, the errors. It must be judicial.
Do you think your complaint has a real chance of being successful?
I will do everything to make it happen. My husband, who was very involved in AMUF, fought for the public hospital. He did a lot of negotiations, demonstrations, and nothing has changed. He told me, in December, that a disaster would happen. And the disaster happened. He knew that by taking care, he was taking a risk.
I want to continue my husband's fight. He couldn't go through with it. I want the public hospital to take its place. And I want the French to benefit from a high level health system. I will fight for this.
You are very determined and combative. Why ?
I find myself in an appalling situation. My life is practically destroyed. Fortunately my three children are there. They support me. But it is a catastrophe that falls on us. Why us ? When I look back at the history of everything that happened, my anger is enormous. I have a lot of sadness, and a lot of anger.