Two more prosecuted for involvement in incident at Hòa Bình hospital

HÒA BÌNH — The Hòa Bình Province Investigation Police have filed charges against a top official and former employee of the Hòa Bình General Hospital for their role in the deaths of eight patients last year allegedly due to serious procedural lapses while performing dialysis on them.

Hoàng Đình Khiếu, 56, deputy director of the hospital, and Trần Văn Thắng, 53, then head of its medical materials and equipment procurement division, face charges of “negligence, causing serious consequences.”

They are also prohibited from leaving their houses.

On June 5, the Hòa Bình City People’s Court ordered law enforcement authorities to reopen the investigation and verify the evidence and testimonies.

Bùi Mạnh Quốc, 32, director of the Trâm Anh Water Treatment Co Ltd, has already been charged with “unintentionally causing deaths”, while Trần Văn Sơn, 28, an employee at the hospital’s medical materials and equipment procurement division, and Dr Hòang Công Lương of the intensive-care unit face charges of “failure to fulfill responsibility, causing serious consequences.”

The court ordered further investigations into the roles of Trương Quý Dương, director of the hospital, and Đỗ Anh Tuấn, director of Thiên Sơn Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, in the signing of contracts for purchase and repairs and maintenance of medical equipment.

Law enforcement authorities should look into the roles of Drs Nguyễn Mạnh Linh and Phạm Thị Huyền and nurses Nguyễn Thu Hằng, Đỗ Thị Diệp and Nguyễn Thị Hậu in the kidney dialysis and the transfer of RO water filter No 2 after servicing, the court said.

It also recommended reviewing the responsibility of the province’s Department of Health in granting a licence and overseeing the hospital’s activities, including dialysis.

On May 29 last year, 18 patients suffered from symptoms of anaphylactic shock like breathing difficulty, sudden blood pressure fall, stomach ache, and vomiting during dialysis at the ICU.

Eight of them died.

According to authorities, poor quality water and the failure of equipment to work properly were the causes of the tragic event.

On April 20 this year, Dr Lương wrote to Party, State and Government leaders expressing the hope the case would be investigated in a transparent and fair manner. — VNS