Five internists at Bitola clinical hospital charged after patient died

Five internists from the Clinical Hospital "Dr. Trifun Panovski" in Bitola have been formally charged after a 40-year-old patient’s condition worsened and she died, the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Bitola announced. An indictment was filed for "Serious crimes against human health under Article 217 paragraph 4 in conjunction with Article 207 paragraph 3 in conjunction with paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code."

Prosecutors outline the period and alleged failings

According to the prosecution, the doctors are accused of negligent treatment at the Department of Internal Medicine between 28.05.2024 and 04.06.2024. The alleged negligence produced a deterioration of the patient’s health that resulted in her death.

The patient had arrived at the hospital after a prior examination and a referral from her general practitioner, who had suspected inflammation of the veins — thrombophlebitis. After the initial assessment on the internal ward, prosecutors say the medical team established a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis without taking a full medical history or carrying out detailed analyses.

Following that diagnosis the patient was given therapy and discharged home, and prosecutors assert the subsequent course of events shows the treatment was negligent and led to a fatal outcome.

The indictment names five internists from the Bitola clinical hospital. The case will proceed through the criminal process in Bitola, where prosecutors must prove that the treatment met the legal threshold described in the indictment.

Photo: SDK.MK)