During the investigation: new details of the tragedy at the Novokuznetsk maternity hospital

On January 14, it became known about the detention of the chief physician and the head of the intensive care unit of the Novokuznetsk Maternity Hospital No. 1, where nine babies died during the New Year holidays. The investigation believes that the cause of the deaths was the improper performance of official duties by the suspects. New details of the tragedy can be found in the Izvestia article.

Detention of the head physician and the head of the department

On Wednesday, January 14, it became known about the detention in Novokuznetsk of the chief physician and the head of the intensive care unit of the maternity hospital, in which nine babies died between January 4 and January 12. This was announced by the official representative of the Investigative Committee Svetlana Petrenko.

"By the investigators <... The chief physician and the acting head of the department of intensive care and intensive care for newborns and premature babies of Novokuznetsk City Clinical Hospital No. 1 have been detained," she said.

According to investigators, nine newborns died on New Year's Weekend due to improper performance of official duties by the suspects. It is reported that investigative actions are currently being carried out with the detainees, as well as the issue of charging them and choosing a preventive measure is being resolved.

Petrenko added that, depending on the role of each, "they are suspected of committing crimes under Part 3 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code ("negligence") and Part 3 of Article 109 of the Criminal Code ("causing death by negligence to two or more persons due to improper performance of professional duties").

The detained chief physician, Vitaly Heraskov, previously held a number of senior positions in major medical institutions in Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk. In 2020, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Health of Kuzbass, and took the position of chief physician of Novokuznetsk City Clinical Hospital No. 1 in 2024.

The Commission for evaluating the work of the maternity service

On January 14, it also became known that a commission to evaluate the work of the maternity service had arrived in the Kemerovo Region and started work. It is headed by the head of Roszdravnadzor, Alla Samoilova. The commission also includes intensive care specialists and obstetricians and gynecologists.

According to Alla Samoilova, the main task of the commission's work is to understand the situation as much as possible. Experts will sort out all the deaths of children, after which they will give official comments.

The Ministry of Health of Kuzbass provides assistance to the Roszdravnadzor commission, as well as provides all necessary documentation.

Who accepts women in labor

According to Novokuznetsk City Clinical Hospital No. 1 (NGKB No. 1), medical care for women in labor in Novokuznetsk after the temporary closure of maternity hospital No. 1 is provided in the city maternity hospital No. 2.

"Currently, patients are being treated at the obstetric hospital No. 2 in Novokuznetsk (Izhevsk Avenue, 16). Medical care for mothers and newborns is fully organized. The capacity of this obstetric hospital allows us to do this efficiently and in a timely manner," the hospital said in a statement.

Reviews of maternity hospital No. 1 in Novokuznetsk

After information appeared about the deaths of nine newborns in Novokuznetsk, comments began to appear from women who gave birth to children in the obstetric department No. 1 in Novokuznetsk. The patients talked about incidents that occurred there: one baby allegedly had his arm torn off during childbirth, and another had his collarbone broken, accusing his mother of "not being able to give birth."

Later, reports began to appear refuting this. The Ministry of Health of the Kemerovo Region told TASS that women who previously gave birth in the obstetric department No. 1 of Novokuznetsk send numerous requests for support to doctors.

"The ministry receives numerous messages and calls from women who gave birth to children at the Novokuznetsk maternity hospital No. 1, or had children in this particular intensive care unit. They express their gratitude, are ready to support the medical staff of the institution and deny numerous accusations against the doctors," they said.

Mass death of infants in Novokuznetsk maternity hospital: what is known

On January 13, it became known that nine children died in the obstetric department No. 1 of NGKB No. 1 during the New Year holidays. In addition, the hospital was closed due to exceeding the threshold for respiratory infection. The head doctor of the hospital was suspended from his post during the inspection. Relevant departments have organized an inspection.

According to the conclusions, the children died as a result of neonatal or intrauterine infections that develop in the first weeks after birth and during fetal development in the womb. The infants were diagnosed with pneumonia and respiratory distress syndrome, multiple organ failure syndrome, complications in the form of pneumothorax, hemothorax, and infectious and toxic shock. It was also reported that six out of nine children were premature — the gestation period ranged from 24 to 34 weeks.

There was also information that 15 unscheduled inspections and a preventive visit were conducted at NGKB No. 1 in 2025, while in 2024 there were 170 of them. In addition, the inspection authorities issued 14 warnings to the hospital last year, and 156 in 2024.

Serious violations in the Novokuznetsk hospital have been recorded before. In 2021, the court suspended the work of the obstetric department, the operating unit and the laundry for 14 days due to gross non-compliance with sanitary standards.

After reports of the incident appeared, an inspection of the institution's compliance with the requirements of the legislation on health care, protection of the rights of minors and compliance with sanitary and epidemiological norms and requirements in the maternity hospital was organized. Later, it became known that a criminal case had been initiated under Part 3 of Article 109 of the Criminal Code ("Causing death by negligence to two or more persons"), Part 3 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code ("Negligence"). In addition, the head of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, referred the case of the death of newborns to the central office of the department.