On Monday, Tetovo Clinical Hospital Director Erzen Elezi explained what had gone on with regards to the death of the seven-year-old from Celopek. The girl was admitted on 20 September, at 8:40 pm.
“Her condition had been stable until the following day. The following day, laboratory analyses were carried out again and the necessary drip processes were provided. During the therapy process, the patient wasn’t able to swallow. She was examined again by a paediatrician. At that time, the on-call ENT doctor was consulted for an additional examination. The patient was sent to the ENT doctor, where, during the procedure to collect secretion, she wasn’t showing signs of mobility. When the ENT doctor noticed there was no reaction, he called an anaesthesiologist and the girl was sent to the resuscitation ward, where she died”, he stressed.
According to Elezi, the disciplinary commission over the case was summoned on Sunday. The Director also stated that that had been the second case in which patients came to the Hospital following previous illegal therapy from a primary care physician (PCP).
“Here, it’s about something illegal. I appeal to the Labour Inspectorate, Health Ministry, and Health Insurance Fund to take strict measures against these doctors that provide illegal therapies without a medical report, to which they are not entitled to. After that, our patients come to the Tetovo Hospital in a severe condition”, he pointed out, adding that there had been no report that the girl had received therapy from a PCP, which was illegal.
The girl was buried in Celopek on Monday as well. However, the Prosecutor’s Office in Tetovo issued two autopsy orders, both a verbal one (on Sunday) and one in writing (on Monday).
It remains unclear whether there will be an autopsy to determine the cause of death or the case will be closed only through actions by a disciplinary commission by the Hospital and Health Ministry.
Commenting on the case, Minister Azir Aliu asked for time to be given to the two commissions to analyse the case. Despite not allowing an autopsy procedure to be performed, the family, on social media, expressed revolt and said it suspected it was about negligence, calling on health and judicial organs to look into all aspects of the case.