Physician lawsuits: how sepsis could have been introduced to IVF clinic patients

Relatives of the patients who were injured during an IVF procedure in a Moscow clinic told Izvestia the chronology of what happened. They were supposed to stay in the medical center for two hours and then go home. But by that time they already felt bad. According to the husband of one of them, after the procedure she had a "jaundiced complexion", she looked bad, and at home her condition only worsened. The family called an ambulance, and at the hospital the woman was put into an induced coma and hooked up to a ventilator - her kidneys, liver and breathing failed. In total, five people are considered to be injured, the Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case. "Izvestia" found out that in 2017 to the work of the clinic "I am healthy" had claims from Rospotrebnadzor. What has now happened in the Moscow clinic - in our material.

Five patients hospitalized with sepsis after IVF

- The clinic is closed, there is no staff here now - said the correspondent of "Izvestia", when he went to the clinic "I am healthy" on Andropov Avenue in Moscow.

On Sunday, February 9, the work of the medical center was suspended due to detected cases of sepsis (systemic inflammatory reaction of the body), Rospotrebnadzor said. Specialists of the agency began an epidemiological investigation with the examination of the center and identification of the circle of contact persons.

On February 10, the Moscow Department of the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on the fact of emergency hospitalization of patients from the clinic. On February 8, five women were hospitalized after in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures performed at the medical facility.

According to Izvestia's source, all the victims were hospitalized with blood poisoning and fever. According to him, sepsis could have been brought in during the introduction of general anesthesia, which was performed with the drug propofol. The medical manipulation itself is carried out without incisions, so it was the injection of anesthesia that could have brought the infection.

Itis almost pointless to fight sepsis with antibiotics, generalpractitioner Pavel Khoroshev told Izvestia.

-The most effective way to remove it is surgically, " he emphasized. - Previously, there have been no cases of sepsis infection during IVF, although this procedure has been in demand for 15 years.

He added that the probability of lethal outcome reaches 98%.

The husband of one of the victims, Vadim, said that his spouse was in an artificial coma. Doctors put her on a ventilator because her kidneys and liver had failed and her breathing was impaired. He assessed his spouse's condition as serious, and doctors told the man that they "did not want to get his hopes up."

According to him, his spouse's health deteriorated almost immediately after the IVF treatment. It was scheduled for 11am. The woman felt bad while still in the medical center, called her husband and asked him to pick her up later than planned - she had to be additionally examined by doctors. When her husband met her, she was very pale.

- Jaundiced complexion, lips blue, looked bad. She lay down and stayed at home for three hours. We saw that her condition was not improving, so we decided to call an ambulance," Vadim said.

He added that his wife went to this medical institution for the second time, earlier the procedure went without any problems.

"Izvestia" studied several forums on the Internet, where many reviews of this medical center are posted.

"A colleague last year did several minimally invasive procedures. And also acquaintances there are seen by a gynecologist. Many people recommended this clinic to me as a good one," writes one of the women.

"Did IVF here and observed during pregnancy. Wonderful doctors and wonderful people!", - says another review.

But there are also comments that say that the clinic is "so-so".

Who owns the clinic

The medical center of reproduction "I am healthy" (legal entity Algorithm Plus LLC), according to the Spark database, was opened in January 2007. The organization has 24 employees. The medical center has two valid licenses: for medical activity (including obstetrics and gynecology), as well as for the circulation of narcotic and psychotropic substances.

During the existence of the clinic, it has been inspected five times. In 2017, Rospotrebnadzor revealed four violations, but which ones - it is not reported.

The company's revenues for the year 2023 amounted to about 368.2 million rubles, net profit - about 125.3 million rubles. The company has four founders: Natalia Akimova, Victoria Beklemischeva, Vladimir Gasparov and Ekaterina Dubinskaya own it in equal shares.

The clinic's website states that it has the status of a university clinic and is a clinical base for obstetrics and gynecology at PFUR. The same information is confirmed on the university's website.

"Since 1991, we have been conducting research on human reproduction and treatment of diseases that interfere with pregnancy. For ten years, the clinic staff defended 12 candidate and eight doctoral dissertations," - stated on the website of the medical center.

Heads research in the clinic is a member of the Academic Council of PFUR Alexander Gasparov. "Izvestia" sent an inquiry to PFUR about the work of the clinic.

Co-founder of the clinic Vladimir Gasparov also owns a business related to the lease and management of non-residential real estate. Previously, he was a co-owner of businesses related to the restaurant business and food delivery, but they were liquidated. Vladimir Gasparov also has a financial intermediation company, but it is now in bankruptcy.

Ekaterina Dubinskaya previously acted as a co-founder of Vertical LLC, which was engaged in pharmaceutical activities. Another co-founder in this company was Alexander Gasparov. Now this organization is liquidated.

Who can be held liable

The IC has not yet identified the suspects in the case. If during the epidemiological investigation it will be established that the medical facility knew about the presence of infection, but did not close for washing, the staff and management will be punished, said medical lawyer Irina Gritsenko. In this case, they face at least administrative responsibility.

- But I have not seen in my practice that the investigative authorities brought cases with infection to the court. Mostly such cases are dismissed due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, " said Irina Hrytsenko.

She reminded that from 2024, Article 238 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on the provision of services that do not meet safety requirements does not apply to cases of medical care - it cannot be applied to medical workers.

But medical error may entail criminal liability in case of failure to provide assistance to a patient or negligence, due to which the patient was negligently caused serious harm to health under Article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, added the lawyer of the Moscow Bar Association Maryana Khadzhieva. In such cases, the patient has the right to demand from the medical organization compensation for the harm caused to health, as well as compensation for moral damage and expenses incurred.

Claims for compensation can also be filed by the patient's family members, the expert said.