The Hoa Binh Dialysis Case: Saving 12 million VND caused 8 deaths?

Defendant Bui Manh Quoc.

Deadly new contract

The People's Court of Hoa Binh City allowed Lawyer Tran Vu Hai to question the contents surrounding the contract to repair the water filtration system used for dialysis at the Artificial Kidney Unit of the Intensive Care Department - Hoa Binh Hospital.

According to the indictment, defendant Tran Van Son - an officer of the supplies department of Hoa Binh Hospital requested to repair the RO water filtration system. On May 25, 2017, Mr. Truong Quy Duong - Director of Hoa Binh Hospital (dismissed after the incident) signed a contract worth nearly 100 million VND with Thien Son Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company (in Hanoi) to repair, sterilize the RO system and perform biochemical testing.

On the same day, Thien Son Company, whose director is Mr. Do Anh Tuan, signed a contract worth 70 million VND with Tram Anh Water Treatment Company Limited (in Bac Ninh), whose director is defendant Bui Manh Quoc, to carry out the items signed with Hoa Binh Hospital.

On May 28, 2017, defendant Quoc repaired the RO water filtration system but due to negligence, acid remained in the system. Defendant Son did not check and knew that no water sample had been taken for testing but informed that the system could be used.

On May 29, 2017, defendant Hoang Cong Luong - doctor of the Artificial Kidney Unit ordered blood filtration and dialysis. As a result, all 18 patients suffered from abnormal symptoms, of which 8 died.

Responding to Lawyer Tran Vu Hai's question, the representative of Thien Son Company confirmed that they signed a contract with Tram Anh Company on May 25, 2017. The time of signing the contract did not change the fact that defendant Quoc made the repair on May 28, 2017.

When asked about the location of the contract signing, Thien Son representative said: "Where we signed the contract with Tram Anh is our business. We confirm that we signed it, that action has been established."

Regarding the time of signing the contract, the defendant Quoc’s wife denied that it was May 25, 2017 as stated by Thien Son. According to her, her husband had a contract at a hospital in Can Tho so he went to the South with another person - this person can testify, and only returned on the evening of May 25, 2017.

Similarly, Bui Manh Quoc stated: “On May 25, 2017, the defendant was not in Hanoi because he was traveling to the South. On the morning of May 25, the defendant was resting in Dong Hoi (Quang Binh) and returned to Bac Ninh that evening.”

Defendant Quoc affirmed that the contract signed with Thien Son was made after the incident occurred and Quoc went to Thien Son headquarters. According to this defendant: “Mr. Tuan (Thien Son Director) said to leave the seal (of Tram Anh) there, his staff will stamp it for him, go to the room to talk. Then Mr. Tuan told the defendant to go out for a drink, and call if anything happened. About 1-2 hours later, the investigator called the defendant and told him to go to Thien Son Company to write a report. The police instructed the defendant to go home to get samples of materials. There was an investigation into Nghia and Giang coming home, and they invited the defendant to go to Hoa Binh Provincial Police, but at that time, they had not prosecuted or arrested him.”

Lawyer Tran Vu Hai (first from left) after being asked by the presiding judge to leave.

"Chase" the lawyer out

Lawyer Tran Vu Hai wanted to present many opinions but the court affirmed that they were in the questioning phase. The lawyer continued to speak and only stopped when the presiding judge asked the security force to take Mr. Hai out if he continued speaking.

Then, Lawyer Le Van Thiep asked to question defendant Bui Manh Quoc. During this process, Mr. Thiep requested the court to ask lawyer Tran Vu Hai to leave because he was too disorderly. The presiding judge had to remind Mr. Hai.

Responding to Mr. Thiep's question, defendant Bui Manh Quoc said he had requested to replace all 4 RO membranes in the water filtration system but was not approved, only allowing him to replace 2 membranes and clean the remaining 2 membranes.

Lawyer Thiep asked, if all 4 filters were replaced, the defendant would not have to use acid to clean, so no one would die? Defendant Quoc: “Yes… if all 4 filters were replaced, the price would increase to about 10 to 12 million VND.”

Mr. Thiep asked again, so if we did not save 12 million VND, no one would die, meaning only 1.5 million VND/person? Defendant Bui Manh Quoc replied: "Yes, that's right."

Next, lawyer Le Van Thiep questioned the representative of Thien Son Company about why, when winning the bid, they signed a contract with Tram Anh, "sitting in the middle and taking the money"? Was this a violation of the bidding law?

Thien Son Company representative said that the signing of the contract with Tram Anh was to implement the contract signed with Hoa Binh Hospital. Whether or not there was a violation of the bidding law cannot be considered within the scope of this case.

Mr. Thiep asked, what do you think if we recommend investigating the corruption of Mr. Truong Quy Duong and Do Anh Tuan?

A representative of Thien Son Company responded that the incident happened because people at the hospital used the system while it was being repaired. “Not only are the people upset about this, but our company is also very upset,” said a representative of Thien Son.