Defendant Bùi Mạnh Quốc, director of the Trâm Anh Water Treatment Company, received a 54-month sentence, while Hoàng Công Lương, a doctor at the hospital’s Department of Intensive Care, was sentenced to 42 months on charges of involuntary manslaughter. — VNA/VNS Photo

HOÀ BÌNH — The People’s Court of Hoà Bình City on Wednesday handed down sentences to seven defendants implicated in a serious medical incident that killed nine patients at the provincial General Hospital on May 29, 2017.

Defendant Bùi Mạnh Quốc, director of the Trâm Anh Water Treatment Company, received a 54-month sentence, while Hoàng Công Lương, a doctor at the hospital’s Department of Intensive Care, was sentenced to 42 months on charges of involuntary manslaughter.

Defendant Trần Văn Sơn, who worked at the hospital’s medical material and equipment division, was jailed for 42 months; deputy director of the hospital and head of the Department of Intensive Care Hoàng Đình Khiếu along with head of the division Trần Văn Thắng received 36 months; and director of the hospital Trương Quý Dương and director of the Thiên Sơn JSC Đỗ Anh Tuấn got 30 months for “lack of responsibility causing serious consequences”.

Hoà Bình General Hospital and Thiên Sơn JSC have been ordered to pay VNĐ1.7 billion (US$73,000) and over VNĐ728 million to the victims’ families.

On May 29, 2017, 18 kidney patients experienced symptoms such as anaphylactic shock, breathing difficulties, sudden drops in blood pressure, stomachaches and vomiting while receiving kidney dialysis at the dialysis division at Hoà Bình General Hospital’s Department of Intensive Care. Nine patients died in the incident.

According to the indictment from the provincial People’s Procuracy, Quốc was in charge of maintaining the reverse osmosis filter system on the dialysis machines. During the process, the machines’ water supply tubes were not purified, leaving chemical residue.

Sơn, who was in charge of checking and supervising the replacement and maintenance of the filter system, failed to complete his tasks. Nephrologist Lương allowed the dialysis treatment to commence without checking the water quality.

Thiên Sơn signed a contract on May 25, 2017 to maintain the water filters at the hospital. However, the firm then sold the contract to Trâm Anh Water Treatment Co., Ltd. — VNS