Doctor Hoang Cong Luong was proposed for prosecution for the third time.

On November 25, the Investigation Police Agency (Hoa Binh Provincial Police) issued the third supplementary investigation conclusion into the medical accident case at Hoa Binh Provincial General Hospital that killed 9 people.

During the 4-month investigation, the authorities have prosecuted 4 more people including: Truong Quy Duong (former director of the hospital), Hoang Dinh Khieu (former deputy director of the hospital), Tran Van Thang (former head of the supplies department) and Do Anh Tuan (Director of Thien Son Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company). The case currently has 7 defendants.

The third supplementary investigation conclusion confirmed that the defendant Hoang Cong Luong was qualified to practice artificial kidney techniques and independent treatment. Doctor Luong signed the medical records to confirm that he was the person with the highest responsibility in ordering dialysis for the patients on May 29, 2017 at the Dialysis Unit.

On the day of the incident, the RO2 water filtration system had just been repaired, and the Supplies Department had not yet accepted and completed the handover procedures to the dialysis unit. The RO water had not yet been inspected by a specialist according to hospital regulations and had not yet been directed by the head of the department. However, Luong only heard two nurses report that they had given orders and confirmed the orders of other doctors to perform dialysis on the patient.

The investigation concluded that with his level of training, Luong must have foreseen the consequences, so his actions constituted a crime.Involuntary manslaughter,according to Article 98 of the 1999 Penal Code.

On May 29, 2017, in addition to Luong, there were two other doctors, Nguyen Manh Linh and Pham Thi Huyen, working at the artificial kidney unit. However, the investigation agency determined that these two doctors performed their professional duties in accordance with procedures.

Deputy Director of Hospital provided false documents

Hoa Binh police said that, in his role as deputy director of the hospital in charge of the medical supplies and equipment department, Mr. Hoang Dinh Khieu violated the regulations on management and use of equipment. Mr. Khieu did not report to the director to hand over the RO water filtration system to an individual in the Intensive Care Department for management and use. He did not closely check and hand over the RO water filtration system after repair to the Medical Supplies and Equipment Department and the Artificial Kidney Unit.

In his work as Head of the Intensive Care Unit, Mr. Khieu loosened management to allow the dialysis unit to arbitrarily use the repaired RO2 water filtration system without acceptance and handover.

According to the investigation agency, Mr. Khieu's actions constitute a crime.Lack of responsibility causes serious consequences,according to Article 285 of the 1999 Penal Code.

After the incident on May 29, 2017, Mr. Khieu directed the department to complete the records and assigned Dinh Tien Cong to add to the meeting book the assignment of Luong to be in charge of the kidney unit. Afterwards, Mr. Khieu and Dr. Hoang Cong Tinh signed the confirmation.

Both Mr. Khieu and nurse Cong stated that this was to complete administrative documents to submit to the police, not for the purpose of opposing or harming anyone.

The investigation agency also determined that, in addition to the content Cong added to the 2015 and 2016 meeting book, there were a number of other documents that showed "signs of being corrected after the incident". However, considering that these contents did not affect the criminal responsibility of the defendants in the case, the investigation agency continued to collect evidence and proposed to handle them later.

Subcontracting of dialysis water filtration

According to the investigation conclusion, Mr. Do Anh Tuan (Director of Thien Son Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company) signed contract 315 with Hoa Binh Provincial General Hospital but did not implement it but "sold" it to Tram Anh Company of Bui Manh Quoc.

Thien Son Company also did not agree with Quoc to make him responsible for checking, quoting, and repairing the RO2 water filtration system.

Mr. Tuan was accused of letting Quoc do all the work himself, such as surveying, quoting, repairing... Therefore, Mr. Tuan did not know how Quoc purchased and used the materials, and whether the quality was guaranteed or not.

The agency believes that Mr. Tuan's actions led to Quoc arbitrarily using HF and HCL chemicals to clean the filter membrane, resulting in a chemical residue many times larger than the permitted level, causing extremely serious consequences. Mr. Tuan was proposed to be prosecuted for the crime.Lack of responsibility causes serious consequences,according to article 285 of the 2015 Penal Code.

On the morning of May 29, 2017, 18 patients undergoing dialysis at Hoa Binh General Hospital showed unusual signs. 9 people died one after another. Police determined the cause was due to an unsafe water source for dialysis and the irresponsibility of Dr. Hoang Cong Luong.

On June 5, after 12 days of first instance trial of Hoang Cong Luong, Bui Manh Quoc, and Tran Van Son (staff of the supplies department of Hoa Binh General Hospital), the People's Court of Hoa Binh city announced to return the case file to clarify a number of issues.

On July 2, Deputy Director Hoang Dinh Khieu and former head of the supplies department Tran Van Thang were prosecuted.

On August 23, former hospital director Truong Quy Duong was prosecuted.

In August, Hoang Cong Luong's charges were changed fromLack of responsibility causes serious consequencesluxuriousInvoluntary manslaughter.

On November 21, Do Anh Tuan (Director of Thien Son Company) was prosecuted for the crime ofLack of responsibility causes serious consequences.