Hoa Binh (VNA) – The Investigation Police Agency of Hoa Binh provinceon July 2 launched legal proceedings against a leader and a former employee ofHoa Binh General Hospital for their involvement in the medical incident leavingeight patients dead at the kidney dialysis division.

Deputy Director of the Hoa Binh General HospitalHoang Dinh Khieu, born in 1962 in Lang Son province and residing in Dong Tienward, Hoa Binh city, and former head of the hospital’s Medical Materials andEquipment Department Tran Van Thang, born in 1965 in Thai Binh province andresiding in Su Ngoi commune, Hoa Binh city, were prosecuted. They were bannedfrom leaving their residences.

On June 5, the People’s Court of Hoa Binh city decided to return dossiers onthe medical incident for additional investigations.

Thedefendants of the case are Bui Manh Quoc (born in 1986, Director of the TramAnh Water Treatment Co. Ltd), who was prosecuted for “unintentionally causingdeaths”, Tran Van Son (born in 1990, employee of the medical material andequipment 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 GeneralHospital), who were prosecuted for “lacking responsibility causing seriousconsequences.”

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

More investigations should be carried out on Truong Quy Duong, former Directorof the hospital, and Do Anh Tuan, director of Thien Son Pharmaceutical JointStock 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 ofdoctors Nguyen Manh Linh and Pham Thi Huyen, and nurses Nguyen Thu Hang, Do ThiDiep and Nguyen Thi Hau in the kidney dialysis and the transfer of RO waterfilter No.2 after maintenance, the panel said.

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

Violations of Khieu and Thang were clarified during investigations of the InvestigationPolice Agency.

On May 29, 2017, 18 patients suffered from symptoms of anaphylactic shock likebreathing difficulty, sudden blood pressure fall, stomach ache and vomitingwhile receiving kidney dialysis at the kidney dialysis division of the Hoa BinhGeneral Hospital’s Department of Intensive Care. Eight of the patients died inthis incident.

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

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