Prosecutors of the Ternopil Regional Prosecutor’s Office have submitted to the court indictments in criminal cases against three doctors and the head of the ophthalmology department of a district hospital.
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, depending on their actions, they are charged with improper performance of professional duties, which led to serious consequences for patients, obtaining undue benefit and negligence (Article 140(1), Article 368-4(4), Article 367(2) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The investigation established that the head of the ophthalmology department of a district hospital sold to patients a drug that was banned in Ukraine and not intended for ophthalmology treatment.
From March 2022 to February 2023, three doctors of this department, on the instructions of the head, administered the drug to patients, receiving payments from them in the amount of UAH 8 to 34 thousand for each injection.
As a result of this ‘treatment’, 18 patients suffered: 15 of them lost sight in one eye, and three lost sight in both eyes. Due to complications, 7 patients had to have their eyes removed.
The pre-trial investigation was conducted by the National Police of Ukraine.
