A 78 year old man requiring urgent surgery to remove a stomach tumour died yesterday three weeks after being admitted to Zaragoza's Clinical Hospital.

Owing to a shortage of surgeons the operation had been put off until after Easter causing his family to start legal action against the hospital.

Their lawyer Ricardo Agoiz explained today that he is now also petitioning for the sacking of regional Health minister Luisa María Noeno as well as the medical team responsible for the patient's welfare.