Further investigations required for medical incident at Hoa Binh hospital

Hoa Binh (VNA) – The trial panel on the medical incident causing eight deaths at the kidney dialysis division of the Hoa Binh General Hospital in 2017 returned the file on the case on June 5, and asked relevant authorities to carry out additional investigations.

The defendants of the case are Bui Manh Quoc (born in 1986, Director of the Tram Anh Water Treatment Co. Ltd), who was prosecuted for “unintentionally causing deaths”, Tran Van Son (born in 1990, employee of the medical material and equipment division of the Hoa Binh General Hospital), and Hoang Cong Luong (born in 1986, doctor in the Department of Intensive Care of the Hoa Binh General Hospital), who were prosecuted for “lacking responsibility causing serious consequences.”

The trials have been carried out in the spirit of the judicial renovation and further inquiries are needed as there appeared new facts of the case, the panel said, adding that the move aims to prevent unjust verdicts and rectify the medical workforce.

The panel proposed prosecution for Hoang Dinh Khieu, Deputy Director of the hospital and Head of the Department of Intensive Care, and Tran Van Thang, former Head of the hospital’s Medical Materials and Equipment Department, to clarify their “negligence of responsibility, causing serious consequences”.

More investigations should be carried out on Truong Quy Duong, former Director of the hospital, and Do Anh Tuan, director of Thien Son Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, relating to the signing of the contract on machines purchase, and repair and maintenance of medical materials.

Relevant authority should work more to throw light on the responsibility of doctors Nguyen Manh Linh and Pham Thi Huyen, and nurses Nguyen Thu Hang, Do Thi Diep and Nguyen Thi Hau in the kidney dialysis and the transfer of RO water filter No.2 after maintenance.

In addition, the panel recommended reviewing the responsibility of the provincial Department of Health on granting license, managing, and inspecting the hospital’s activities, including the artificial kidney dialysis.

On May 29, 2017, 18 patients suffered from symptoms of anaphylactic shock like breathing difficulty, sudden blood pressure fall, stomach ache and vomiting while receiving kidney dialysis at the kidney dialysis division of the Hoa Binh General Hospital’s Department of Intensive Care. Eight of the patients died in this incident.

According to authorised agencies, unqualified water for kidney dialysis and equipment maintained and operated not in line with the regulated process were the causes of the incident.

On April 20, doctor Hoang Cong Luong sent a letter to the Party, State and Government leaders, expressing his hope that the case will be judged in an open and fair manner.-VNA