They're putting this guy out here like this, naked.
Video evidence shows a patient in hospital gown left on sidewalk by apparent hospital workers, sparking widespread social media condemnation. Hospital La María categorically rejected the incident, apologized publicly, and stated the patient was readmitted and is under medical care.
- Video recorded outside Hospital La María in Medellín on a weekend in June 2026
- Patient in hospital gown left on sidewalk by apparent hospital workers
- Patient readmitted within minutes and is under medical care
- Hospital issued public apology and launched internal investigations
A viral video showing Hospital La María staff allegedly abandoning a patient on a Medellín street sparked public outrage. The hospital issued an apology and launched internal investigations.
A video recorded outside Hospital La María in Medellín this past weekend set off a firestorm on social media that would force the institution to issue a public apology and launch internal investigations. The footage, shared widely across platforms, showed a man still wearing a hospital gown being lowered from a wheelchair onto the sidewalk by two people who appeared to be hospital staff. His belongings were placed beside him on the pavement. In the video, the patient struggles visibly to remain upright as the workers dress him. Someone recording the scene can be heard saying, "Look, they're putting this guy out here like this, naked." The man ends up lying on the concrete until a police patrol arrives to check on his condition.
The hospital's management responded swiftly after the video circulated, issuing a statement that rejected the incident categorically and offered public apologies to the patient, his family, and the broader community. "With profound indignation and pain, the management of Hospital La María categorically rejects the facts recorded in a video circulating on social media, where undignified treatment of a patient outside our facilities is evident," the institution wrote. The hospital said it had immediately activated internal investigations and taken administrative measures to determine what happened and assign responsibility.
According to the hospital's account, the patient was readmitted to the facility within minutes of the incident and is now receiving care, protection, and monitoring from the medical team. The institution acknowledged that the episode exposed gaps in how it handles vulnerable patients facing complex clinical, emotional, or social circumstances. It committed to strengthening its humanization strategies, crisis management protocols, and violence prevention measures in healthcare settings.
The case generated intense reaction across social media, with users demanding explanations for how a patient in a hospital gown ended up abandoned on a public street. Questions about the circumstances leading to the incident remain largely unanswered. The hospital has not released additional details about the patient's health status or the identities of the staff members involved. As internal investigations continue, authorities are working to establish a complete account of what occurred and whether any laws were broken. The incident has cast a spotlight on patient care standards at the institution and raised broader questions about accountability in Medellín's healthcare system.
Notable Quotes
With profound indignation and pain, the management of Hospital La María categorically rejects the facts recorded in a video circulating on social media, where undignified treatment of a patient outside our facilities is evident.— Hospital La María management statement
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
What was the patient's condition when he was put on the street? Could he have been discharged?
The video shows he couldn't stand without help. He was still in a hospital gown. This wasn't a normal discharge—it looked like abandonment.
Why would hospital staff do this? What could possibly justify it?
That's what everyone's asking. The hospital hasn't explained the circumstances. There's speculation about overcrowding, a psychiatric crisis, or a conflict, but nothing confirmed.
How did the hospital respond once they saw the video?
Fast, actually. They called it undignified, apologized publicly, and said they brought him back inside within minutes. But they also didn't explain why it happened in the first place.
Is the patient okay now?
According to the hospital, yes—he's under medical care and monitoring. But we don't know his actual condition, his name, or what he's dealing with clinically.
What happens to the staff members involved?
That's still unclear. Internal investigations are ongoing. The hospital said it would determine responsibilities, but no one's been named or disciplined publicly yet.
Does this change anything at the hospital?
They say it will. They're promising to strengthen how they handle vulnerable patients and manage crises. But promises after a viral video are easy. Real change takes time.