Romanian Medical Assistant Charged With Negligent Homicide, Arrested For 29 Days

Judge Lucretia Postelnicu handed down the ruling issuing an arrest warrant for 29 days for Cirstea, on charges of negligent homicide and grave coporal injury by negligence, in connection with the fire at Giulesti maternity hospital in Bucharest, which left five babies dead and six seriously injured.

The ruling may be challenged before the Court of Bucharest.

Simina Parvu, the medical assistant's attorney, said before sentencing that Cirstea admitted only partial responsibility before the judge. The attorney argued that the defendant's job description provided for "one or two starting assistants and one or two nurses" under her authority, but in fact Cirstea was left to tend to the entire intensive care unit by herself.

Parvu said her client left the unit for 12 minutes to go to the restroom and asked her co-worker Daniela Mihaescu in the caesarean section unit to cover during her absence. However, Mihaescu asked Cirstea to substitute for her while she attended a birth. The attorney spoke against the "healthcare system which leaves an assistant in charge of two units" and renders the staff unable to even go to the restroom.

Parvu further defended her client, arguing that Cirstea showed exemplary performance and was invited to take over the intensive care unit, but refused.

The prosecution said Cirstea left her unit and replaced Daniela Mihaescu in the caesarean section unit. Later, the defendant entered the restroom, exited after one minute and then went to the newborn unit, where she engaged in a conversation with co-worker Clementa Florea. During this time, the fire was noticed by intern Maria Bulacu, who called the emergency services.

The prosecution argued that Cirstea's attitude towards her duties, culminating in her unjustified absence from the intensive care unit, makes her responsible for the harm done to the newborns.

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