In Russia, an 11-year-old girl was infected with HIV and hepatitis C in a hospital. Her parents found out about it a year and a half later. What happened and who is now responsible for it

Briefly. In Rostov Oblast, a criminal case was opened after it emerged that an 11-year-old schoolgirl from Azov contracted HIV and hepatitis C while being treated for a common intestinal infection at a local hospital. Her parents found out only a year and a half later — by chance, while preparing for another hospitalization. Their first appeal to the police ended with a refusal “for lack of corpus delicti.” The case only moved forward after media reports and intervention by the children’s ombudsman.

What Happened

In the summer of 2024, the girl was admitted to the infectious diseases ward of Azov Central City Hospital to be treated for a common intestinal infection. On paper, nothing unusual: IV drips, injections, standard procedure. But as it later turned out, she was placed in a shared ward with adult patients — and on those same days, a woman with HIV and hepatitis C was being treated there, receiving the same IV drips and intramuscular injections. _Yuga

Then came almost a year and a half of silence. No one suspected anything.

How they found out

By the end of 2025, the girl had an enlarged lymph node in her neck. Doctors suspected cancer and sent her to Rostov for tests — and before hospitalization, as is usually the case, they ordered some lab work. That was when the family learned that the child had HIV and chronic hepatitis C. According to Kommersant, this was already HIV infection in stage 3. _{Pravmir / Kommersant}

The girl's mother started looking into it herself — and the logic was simple: the child had not had any surgeries, she had not received any blood transfusions, and the only episode that could possibly have been linked to infection was that same hospitalization in the Azov hospital.

Why they didn’t want to open a case

The first attempt to get an investigation off the ground failed. In February 2026, the woman filed a complaint with the Azov Interior Ministry — but received a rejection stating that there was “no corpus delicti.” She had to go further: she contacted the prosecutor's office, which then sent the case back to the Interior Ministry for review. _{The Fifth Channel}

Everything moved only after the story became public. The investigation was reopened after appeals to the prosecutor's office and to the Rostov Region children's rights commissioner — and shortly before that, the story had been picked up by local media. _Mel

What investigators found

Rospotrebnadzor inspected the hospital — and, to put it mildly, found far from an ideal situation. Problems were discovered with the use of disposable medical supplies, there was no record of procedures performed, and there were shortcomings in the organization of anti-epidemic measures. One more detail: the hospital never sent an emergency notification about the detection of hepatitis C in the patient, which could have delayed the inspection of those who had been in contact with her.

As a result — administrative reports. Protocols have been drawn up against the Azov Central City Hospital and the head of the infectious diseases department for violations of sanitary regulations.

Criminal case

Now things are more serious. The Investigative Department of the Russian Interior Ministry for Azov has opened a criminal case under Part 4 of Article 122 of the Criminal Code — HIV infection through improper performance of professional duties. _{RIA Novosti}

The guilty parties have not yet been named. The case was opened against unidentified persons who, under undetermined circumstances, may have been involved in the infection.

The head doctor of the hospital, Vadim Bridkovsky, is not shying away from the conversation — and cautiously suggests that the source of the infection may not have been limited to his institution. According to him, besides the Central City Hospital, the girl received various medical procedures at other organizations as well; the hospital is cooperating with Rospotrebnadzor, Roszdravnadzor, the regional health ministry, and the investigators, as it is also interested in establishing the truth about what happened two years ago.

What the family wants

The girl's mother, apparently, is not seeking a public punishment. She says she does not need any particular doctor to be punished at any cost — what matters more to her is that order is restored in the hospital and the child receives compensation.

Sources: RIA Novosti, Pravmir, 5-tv.ru, Kommersant, Vesti.ru, Mel.fm, Yuga.ru