ST. PETERSBURG, February 7 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov) – Head Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for St. Petersburg has launched a criminal case against medical professionals of a prison where inmate suffering of cancer has died, RAPSI learnt from lawyer Vitaliy Cherkasov on Tuesday.

Doctors are suspected of causing death of inmate by negligence by improper fulfillment of professional duties.

The case documents read that a 37-year old inmate suffered from stage IV cancer, HIV and chronic Hepatitis C. In May 2016, the St. Petersburg City Court granted an appeal filed by legal team of an inmate and released her from a prison hospital, finding her condition incompatible with serving term in prison. She died in two months after release.

According to the investigators, medics noticed signs of inmate’s cancer in May 2015 but did not perform a diagnostic test until five months later. After her diagnosis was confirmed she was not sent for specialized treatment and only received symptomatic one instead, failing to prevent further spread of disease.

Cherkasov noted that forensic examination will be conducted soon to reveal person responsible.