Zdravnik je povzročil smrt pacienta v bolnišnici Niuvanniemi v Kuopioju Sodišče je izreklo kazni in zavrnilo obtožbe bolničarjev

In May 2022, a patient died at Niuvanniemen psychiatric hospital in Kuopio, Finland. The incident has since led to legal proceedings involving medical staff and resulted in a court ruling that placed responsibility primarily on a physician rather than the nursing personnel involved. According to reports, the deceased man had been suffering from severe abdominal pain and was ultimately found to have succumbed to a severe intestinal obstruction. His condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to his death while waiting for transfer to a university hospital for further treatment.

The Pohjois-Savon district court ruled that the attending physician was responsible for the patient's death due to negligence in handling the case. The doctor was fined 50 days' worth of salary, which amounts to approximately 5,000 euros based on their income. The court determined that the physician failed to consider available information about the patient’s pain and the interventions taken to alleviate it. Instead, the doctor relied on previous notes made by other physicians and did not conduct a thorough examination of the patient. This delay in proper assessment contributed to the patient's death.

The court dismissed charges against two nurses who were initially accused of contributing to the patient's death through negligence. It was concluded that both nurses acted appropriately according to hospital protocols. They documented the patient's symptoms accurately and relayed this information to the on-duty physician. Their actions were deemed sufficient under standard procedures, and there was no evidence of carelessness that would constitute criminal liability.

According to the prosecution, the patient’s symptoms could have been treated effectively if he had been sent immediately for urgent examinations. However, the attending physician delayed the transfer to the university hospital, which affected the outcome. The nurse working during the night shift reportedly missed some critical aspects of monitoring the patient's pain and medication use, but the court found no indication of gross negligence on her part. Similarly, the morning nurse claimed she received inadequate information from the night shift and promptly informed the doctor upon noticing the patient's discomfort.

Both the physician and the nurses denied the allegations against them. The doctor argued that he acted diligently based on the information available to him and believed that the patient's prolonged constipation, rather than an acute deterioration, was the cause of death. He also contended that earlier transfers to the university hospital would not have changed the final outcome. The nurses maintained that they followed all necessary procedures and emphasized that diagnosing and deciding on treatment should fall within the physician's responsibilities.

The court's decision highlights the importance of accurate documentation and timely communication among healthcare professionals. While the physician faced penalties for failing to act on the information provided by the nurses, the latter were exonerated of any wrongdoing. The ruling underscores the need for clear lines of responsibility and effective collaboration between doctors and nursing staff in ensuring patient safety.

The case has raised questions about the adequacy of current practices in emergency care within psychiatric hospitals. Although the specific circumstances surrounding the patient's condition remain complex, the court's findings emphasize the necessity for rigorous adherence to established protocols when dealing with potentially life-threatening situations. As the legal process continues, further discussions regarding improvements in medical practice and accountability mechanisms may emerge.