Indictment filed against five internists from Bitola hospital after patient's death

The Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Bitola has filed an indictment against five internists from the Clinical Hospital "Dr. Trifun Panovski" in Bitola, charging them with serious crimes against public health after the death of a 40-year-old patient.

Prosecutors say delayed diagnosis and wrong treatment

According to the indictment, the events took place between 28 May and 4 June 2024, while the patient was treated in the hospital's internal medicine department. Prosecutors allege the doctors failed to make a timely diagnosis and did not provide appropriate treatment, which led to a deterioration of the patient's condition and ultimately a fatal outcome.

The patient initially arrived with a referral from her primary care physician with a suspected thrombophlebitis — inflammation of the veins. Prosecutors say that, without detailed analyses and a complete medical history, the physicians diagnosed her with rheumatoid arthritis and discharged her for outpatient treatment, which prevented timely intervention in a developing thrombotic process.

Because of severe pain she returned to the hospital on 1 June and was admitted, but the indictment states that despite poor laboratory and biochemical results none of the doctors on duty ordered further diagnostic tests to determine the cause and appropriate therapy.

After a dramatic worsening, she sought help at a private clinic in Skopje on 4 June 2024, where she underwent emergency surgery. Surgeons found thrombosis of the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries with complete gangrene of the small and large intestines. The condition was deemed inoperable, and the patient died the following day, on 5 June 2024.

The indictment names five internists and charges them with negligent treatment resulting in death; the case will now proceed through the criminal courts in Bitola.

Photo: press material from the event