Skopje, 20 January 2025 (MIA) — The State Sanitary and Health Inspectorate is requesting that Health Minister Arben Taravari form an expert committee to determine if there were any medical errors leading to the death of the nine-year-old who died Jan. 14 of cardiac arrest after being hospitalized with symptoms of coughing, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, and trouble sleeping the previous night.

State Sanitary and Health Inspectorate director Kiril Lazov confirmed to MIA that medical experts needed to look into the case after state health inspectors did not discover any signs of medical negligence or malpractice at the facilities in Sveti Nikole, Shtip and Skopje where the child was examined. 

According to a State Sanitary and Health Inspectorate report, the boy was initially taken to a GP in Sveti Nikole. At the exam, he was drowsy but had no fever and did not show visible signs of dehydration. 

After lab tests were done, the boy was given an IV solution. He became sleepy and slow to respond, so he was referred to the Shtip Hospital.

The boy was taken to the Shtip hospital by taxi cab, admitted around 6 pm, and examined by a doctor on duty who diagnosed him with somnolence.

More lab tests were done at the hospital, as well as a head CT scan, and the child, accompanied by a medical team, was then taken by ambulance to the University Clinic for Children's Diseases in Skopje.

He was admitted to the children's clinic on Jan. 14 at 8:25 pm as an emergency case after a neurologist on duty had been notified of the diagnosis.

"Upon admission, the child was in severe condition, which is why rehydration and corrections of biochemical parameters were immediately started. At 10:25 pm, his condition deteriorated toward respiratory and cardiac arrest," the report said.

After suffering the cardiac arrest, and despite extensive attempts at resuscitation, the boy could not be brought back. He was pronounced dead at 11:30 pm. mr/