Nurse Admits Guilt in Child's Death at University Children's Hospital; Court Resumes in September

The Riga City Court is set to resume on September 25 the hearing of a criminal case in which a nurse at the Children's Clinical University Hospital (BKUS) is charged with negligent performance of professional duties, resulting in a child's death. The court has previously decided that future sessions will be closed to the public.

According to the prosecution, at the end of November last year, while preparing a sodium bicarbonate solution prescribed by a doctor, the nurse mistakenly prepared a potassium chloride solution and labeled the infusion bag as "Sodium bicarbonate." The following morning, the incorrectly prepared solution was administered to the patient. Shortly after, the child developed severe health complications, and despite resuscitation efforts, her life could not be saved. The investigation concluded that the potassium-containing solution caused irreversible cardiac arrest.

Prior to the first court session, the defense lawyer Aldis Liepiņš told journalists that his client fully admits her guilt and regrets the incident. He emphasized that it was a tragic mistake that the nurse relives daily. She has already apologized to the victims and has begun compensating for the damages, although the amount is not disclosed.

Liepiņš also noted that the case raises broader questions about work organization and medication storage procedures in hospitals. In his view, particularly dangerous medications should be stored separately to prevent similar tragic errors in the future.

Following the incident, Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri ordered several inspections and investigations at BKUS and other healthcare institutions to evaluate patient safety procedures and prevent recurrence.