The doctor charged with causing the death of a new mother in Vanadzor is facing up to six years in prison but he is still holding the same post
19:48, November 20, 2017 | News, Own news | Right to Life, Rights of Patients
In October of last year the body conducting the proceedings of the case of a new mother’s death at Vanadzor Medical Center brought a charge against David Shahverdyan, the senior obstetrician-gynecologist at Vanadzor Medical Center.
The protection of the rights of the legal successors of Hripsime Nazlukhanyan, who died hours after giving birth, was undertaken by HCA Vanadzor lawyers Arayik Zalyan and Ani Chatinyan, who filed motions to pose additional questions to the experts within the framework of forensic medical examination and to conduct some investigative actions.
In accordance with the expert conclusion, the new mother’s death was caused by the obstetrician-gynecologists not providing necessary medical care in the postpartum period.
H. Nazlukhanyan was under David Shahverdyan’s supervision during the prenatal period. At doctor on duty A. Balayan’s request, D. Shahverdyan was also there during childbirth and the implementation of the subsequent actions.
The experts document that the main oversights occurred during the postpartum period, which led to the death of the new mother. As claimed by them, the new mother’s bleeding was the consequence of the tears caused by the speedy childbirth, and, in order to discover the cause of bleeding, the doctors providing medical care were supposed to resort to surgical intervention, which was not done; hence, the tears resulting in bleeding remained undiscovered. Had they been discovered and had the bleeding been halted, it would have been possible to save the new mother’s death.
In accordance with the indictment, obstetrician-gynecologist David Shahverdyan showed a negligent and careless attitude to his professional duties and did not take necessary actions that the situation demanded, which in its turn caused death by negligence.
He is facing from two to six years in prison under Part 2 of Article 130 of the RA Criminal Code. (A. Balayan, the doctor delivering the baby, passed away in a car accident on October 18, 2017.)
Despite this, as informed by the Aggrieved Party, David Shahverdyan is still holding his post of an obstetrician-gynecologist at Vanadzor Medical Center, and the RA Investigative Committee is not taking any measures to suspend his professional activity until the decision about him comes into force.