Father seeks justice after doctors charged in patient deaths

Slavoljub Mikić, father of Marko Mikić, 38, who died in Čačak General Hospital on February 11-12 after tonsil surgery, awaits prosecutorial action. The Serbian Ministry of Health's inspection has filed criminal charges against two hospital doctors involved in the case.

Mikić expressed his hope for justice, stating, "I am still trying to convince myself that we are a country of laws and waiting for the prosecution to declare itself." He added that if no action is taken within 10 days, he will hire a lawyer and join the lawsuit filed by the Ministry of Health. The charges are against the surgeon who performed the operation and the anesthesiologist, for "unconscionable provision of medical assistance."

Mikić believes there was a violation of work discipline, citing information from the Ministry of Health and the hospital director. He is convinced that an order existed to prohibit operations until the circumstances surrounding the fatal surgery of a four-year-old girl were investigated. "This decision was violated, and my son Marko was brought into the operating room incognito, because the hospital director did not know about this operation," Mikić stated, adding that this was "crystal clear" to him from the Ministry of Health.

The four-year-old girl died on February 4 after tonsil surgery at the same hospital, with Marko Mikić dying just days later from the same procedure. Following these deaths, temporary measures were put in place at Čačak General Hospital. Doctors from the University Clinical Centers of Serbia and Kragujevac have taken over the management of the ENT department pending the full investigation into the two fatalities.