In the framework of the criminal case investigated in Armavir Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee the cause of the 4 year-old child’s death was found, sufficient evidence were obtained on improper implementation of professional duties by the doctor.

On June 16, 2015 at 13:55 a call was received from “Armavir Medical Center” informing that a minor child from the village of Jrashen was taken to the medical center with a diagnose of “acute intestinal infection” who died on the same day at about 17:00 while receiving medical assistance in hospital.


A criminal case was initiated in Armavir Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee according to the Part 2 of the Article 130 of RA Criminal Code (failure to implement or improper implementation of professional duties by medical and support personnel which by negligence caused the patient’s death). Necessary investigatory and other procedural actions were conducted to find the circumstances of the child’s death.

 
In the result of investigation evidence were obtained on the allegation that in the medical center medical assistance to the child had been implemented in an improper way.

Particularly, according to initial investigation data on June 16, 2015 at 13:55 the 4 year-old resident of the village of Jrashen with “acute intestinal infection” was accepted to the Division of Infectious Diseases of the medical center.

The child’s condition was assessed “close to serous” by the doctor – the Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases. He knew the disease development – multiple diarrheas, vomiting, presence of fever which showed that the child suffered from “dehydration”, hypovolemic shock diagnosing “acute intestinal infection”. In these conditions the child should have been hospitalized in reanimation division and therapeutic intensive measures should have been taken to preserve necessary vital functions. However, the patient was not taken to reanimation division by the doctor even after being accepted to the division of infectious diseases where the child continued having pathological losses – from gastrointestinal tract through diarrhea, through vomiting combined with presence of fever.

In such conditions the therapeutic measures should have been mainly directed to intensive and quick antishock infusion therapy – full intravenous injection of liquids. The treatment implemented by the doctor in the Division of Infectious Diseases - injection of drugs could not have been and was not effective because of incomparably little liquid.

The 4 year-old child was taken to reanimation division when she was in condition of clinical death where it was impossible to make any diagnosis because of the above-described objective condition. Whereas, no adequate examinations had been implemented by the Head of Division while the child was in the Division of Infectious Diseases, no stool analysis, no urine test, no electrocardiography had been done. If A. Petrosyan had done these examinations properly it would have been possible to define the patient’s diagnosis, mainly the presence of shock, to assess the degree of severity and to implement appropriate complex treatment which would have prevented further complications.

On the base of the evidence obtained through preliminary investigation charge was pressed against the Head of Division of Infectious Diseases of “Armavir Medical Center” according to the Part 2 of the Article 130 of RA Criminal Code for improper performance of medical assistance which negligently caused the patient’s death.

Preliminary investigation is ongoing.

Note; Everyone charged with alleged crime offence shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.