A new malpractice case exposes the shortcomings of the current malpractice procedure in Romania. The Foundation For The Defense Of Citizens Against State Abuses (FACIAS) has analyzed the case of the death of the Stoin family's little girl, who was born on July 20, 2025 at the Reșița County Emergency Hospital and died a day later due to the negligence of the doctors. Although the Ministry of Health ordered an investigation through its subordinate Control Body, almost two months later, the conclusions of the control report have not been published. FACIAS is calling for the immediate publication of the conclusions of the Control Body's investigation and for the harshest possible sanctions to be imposed on the medical staff responsible.
Selena Maria's parents have recounted the dramatic circumstances in which their baby died. The pregnancy had been declared trouble-free and under constant medical monitoring, and at the first signs of labor the mother went to the hospital. During labor there would have been no necessary medical supervision. The family says that although the amniotic fluid showed meconium, a serious clinical sign of fetal distress, and persistent bradycardia set in later, the c-section was performed much too late. The baby was born without vital signs, was resuscitated and intubated, but died on July 21, 2025, one day after birth.
The parents also complain about irregularities in the way the medical guards were organized. Specifically, the parents allege that a doctor would have been on call continuously for several days, contrary to Article 41 of the on-call regulation, which prohibits consecutive shifts.
FACIAS is calling on the Ministry of Health to immediately publish the conclusions of the Control Body's investigation and to hold the medical staff and the management of the Reșița County Emergency Hospital accountable. Behind this case is a family which, after the loss of their child, has been waiting for two months for a clear answer, while the institutions are delaying in taking responsibility and providing transparency.
FACIAS points out that the current procedure for settling malpractice cases in Romania is unclear and does not respect the principle of celerity. The lack of clear deadlines and the blockages generated by the costs of forensic medical expert opinions cover up abuses and do not give patients any guarantee that they will receive justice within a reasonable time.
FACIAS, together with patients' associations in Romania, calls on the Ministry of Health to urgently initiate a legislative reform to set short and clear deadlines for the resolution of malpractice cases, to eliminate the financial blockages in these investigations, so that compensation is fair and awarded on time, to compensate patients for the real damages suffered.