Severe Bedsores and Malnutrition: After the Death of a Young Woman in a Social Care Center, the Case Has Reached the Prosecutor's Office 0 11

The cause of her death is currently considered to be an oncological disease. As part of the criminal proceedings, it will be investigated whether the woman received proper care. The circumstances of her life had all the prerequisites for possible violations of patient rights - she had cognitive impairments and no relatives who could advocate for her.

The 24-year-old woman entered the social care center "Atsaucība" in the summer of 2025. Later, she was diagnosed with an oncological disease. Doctors determined that it was too late for surgery and prescribed palliative care. Currently, institutions are investigating what care the woman received in the last months of her life. Firstly, she had an extremely low weight, indicating malnutrition. Secondly, she had bedsores - already showing signs of gangrene. All of this occurred seemingly under constant medical supervision.

The Health Inspection has requested documentation from all medical institutions where the woman was treated and plans to conduct an inspection at the center. The Ministry of Welfare will also conduct an inspection at the center, with results expected within a month. This case has also attracted the attention of the Ministry of Health.

"It is important to understand whether this was an isolated case or a systemic problem," noted Sanita Janka, director of the Health Department of the Ministry of Health.

The inspection at the center was also conducted by experts from the Ombudsman’s Office. "This case came to the attention of our institution, and we went to the site. An expert doctor was with us. We identified a number of discrepancies with regulatory requirements," stated Ombudsman Karina Palkova. The Ombudsman’s Office informed the prosecutor's office about this case, which initiated a criminal case and appointed a forensic examination to determine the cause of the woman's death.