The Hanoi Department of Health on July 16 decided to halt the private clinic’s operations for investigations.

This is a serious criminal case, and the responsible healthcare organization will work with the investigation agency to make clear the case if required, said Nguyen Viet Cuong, chief inspector of the Hanoi Department of Health.

The patient, Nguyen Thi Thu Phong, 35, was hospitalized at Maria Clinic on July 14 to treat inflammation of the uterus.

Four Chinese doctors at the clinic were said to diagnose and treat the Hanoi resident.  

At 21.00pm, Phong phoned her relatives, asking to go home due to agonizing pain.    

Shortly after that, Phong’s relatives were stopped entering the room by the clinic’s guards and staff.

An hour later, the relatives stormed into the clinic and found Phong had died on the fifth floor.

The police of Dong Da district where Maria Clinic is located called in the four Chinese doctors to the station to work on the case.

When the police came, two of the four Chinese doctors were not available.

The investigation agency proposed that relevant agencies release a ban on exit for the four Chinese doctors.

Maria Clinic has hired Chinese doctors, and it has been fined several times for professional violations.

Hanoi has 13 private clinics, hiring 17 Chinese doctors who have registered to work there.