Epress.am News from Armenia
A repeat forensic examination into the case of Lilit Nalbandyan, who fell into a comma after giving birth in May at the Vanadzor Medical Center and has since been on life support in Yerevan's Erebouni Medical Center, completely rejected the claims that there was no medical error and the patient had thromboembolism. This was conveyed to Epress.am by Helsinki Association for Human Rights representative and Lilit's attorney Arayik Papikyan, based on whose motion a criminal case was launched last year.
The re-examination results showed that had there been proper supervision by medical staff, the deterioration of the woman's health might have been detected on time.
"It's palpable that the first conclusion contains obviously false conclusions: doctors' numerous shortcomings and omissions are undeniable — the patient does not have thromboembolism. Moreover, the first conclusion claimed that the thromboembolism was confirmed by examining the chest at Erebouni Medical Center; meanwhile, according to the conclusion of the re-examination of the clinical data and and the examination conducted at the Erebouni Medical Center, Lilit Nalbandyan was not diagnosed with pulmonary embolism," said Papikyan.
According to Lilit's attorney, the experts who arrived at the first conclusion knew quite well what they were signing.
"They wanted to maintain 'professional loyalty' and save their colleagues from criminal liability. But they didn't take into consideration the fact that Nalbandyan sustained severe irreversible damage to her health. Till today, for more than 10 months, she has been in a coma and there is almost no hope of recovery," he said.
Based on these facts, the attorney petitioned the General Prosecutor of the Republic of Armenia to launch criminal proceedings against the draftees of the forensic examination commission conclusion appointed on May 31, 2013: docent G. Harutyunyan, PhD; Professor, RA Ministry of Health chief expert R. Abrahamyan; Professor I. Malkhasyan, PhD; and expert G. Gafaryan.
"At the same time, considering the fact that operating physician Davit Shahverdyan and anesthesiologist Alvard Hayrapetyan with their wrong actions, and later also their inaction, did not fulfill their professional duties, leaving the patient in danger, and did not provide assistance, which led to a life-threatening situation, we petitioned to have them charged under RA Criminal Code Article 128 (abandonment in danger) Section 2, Article 129 (failure to help a patient) Section 1, and Article 130 (failure to implement or improper implementation of professional duties by medical and support personnel) Section 1," said Papikyan.