Two young patients, aged 5 and 8 months, died at the Transcarpathian Regional Children's Hospital. The first case occurred in December 2024, the second on January 24, 2026. Law enforcement officers opened criminal proceedings in both cases and declared the obstetrician-gynecologist of the medical institution suspicious.
According to the parents of a 5-month-old boy, the child was born prematurely with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, but after treatment his condition improved significantly. On January 23, 2026, the parents went to the doctors because of the child's cough and stayed overnight in the hospital for observation. According to the family, during the administration of the drug through the infusion machine, the medical worker abruptly injected the fluid manually, which caused a sharp deterioration in the child's condition. Access to the intensive care unit was complicated by the closed door, and the parents assess the subsequent actions of the staff as insufficiently prompt. Doctors reported that the cause of death was pulmonary and cerebral edema.
The Transcarpathian regional police have opened criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Article 140 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (improper performance of professional duties by a medical professional, which resulted in grave consequences), which provides for up to 3 years of imprisonment.
Representatives of the Transcarpathian Regional Children's Hospital stated that all actions of the staff were carried out in accordance with clinical protocols, and the child's condition progressively deteriorated, despite the assistance provided. The medical institution expressed condolences to the family and promised that further actions will be taken within the framework of the law.
The second case concerns the death of an infant who suffered severe birth injuries to the cervical spine and spinal cord during birth in March 2024. The boy died in December of the same year. The results of a medical examination determined that the death was caused by the unprofessional actions of an obstetrician-gynecologist.
In both cases, suspicion was declared against one obstetrician-gynecologist for improper performance of professional duties, which led to serious consequences (Part 2 of Article 140 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The Transcarpathian Regional Children's Hospital is located in Mukachevo and is a municipal non-profit enterprise of the regional council. Since 2025, the director of the institution has been Volodymyr Beiresh.
