Zemgale District Court gave former Emergency Medical Service (NMPD) medical assistant to a suspended prison sentence for abandoning an unconscious woman and not providing her with aid, as reported by LTV programme “Panorāma”.
During a wedding celebration, guests found one of the people present – a 31-year-old Alīna Ansone – unconscious on the ground. It is possible she had suffered a bad fall. An ambulance was called in. Medical assistant Gints Vaits recommended carrying her to a bed. She was not hospitalised.
Another ambulance was called the day after. This time Ansone was carried to a hospital, but it was not possible to save her life – the woman had suffered brain death. Her organs were donated to other patients, and Vaits was fired.
As reported by LTV, Zemgale District Court gave Vaits a suspended prison sentence and banned him from practicing medicine for four years.
Vaits admitted his guilt only partially. However, he told LTV that he does not admit his guilt at all because he didn’t know the woman was severely injured.
The former medic claimed that when the ambulance had arrived at the scene, the woman had no signs of injuries. According to Judge Ligita Spirgule, during the trial, Vaits mentioned that perhaps after the ambulance had left, the people present at the wedding celebration had accidentally dropped her on the ground while carrying her to a bed.
The court decided to give the accused a suspended prison sentence because it was concluded he will not commit crimes in the future. On top of that, Vaits had no prior criminal record. Prosecutor Daiga Vāciete, too, agreed to give Vaits a suspended sentence.
Director of NMPD Liene Cipule told “Panorāma” that this particular case was unprecedented. “It was not a medical error – it was negligence. And it should be reviewed by a court of law!” said Cipule.
The verdict of the court is subject to appeal. The prosecutor has no plans to appeal the verdict. The mother of the victim still hasn’t decided if she wants to appeal the verdict.
Also read: One year since tragic events in Jēkabpils. Murderer still not found
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