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Sentencing Requested for Former St. Petersburg Clinic Employees in Barium Poisoning Case

Prosecutors in St. Petersburg have requested five-year prison sentences for two former employees of the Consultative and Diagnostic Center on Siqueiros Street (GKDC No. 1) following a negligence case stemming from a barium poisoning incident. The incident resulted in eight deaths and 44 injuries.

The prosecution is also seeking to ban both defendants from practicing medicine in the future.

The defendants, Elena Medvedeva, head of the radiology department, and Alexandra Feofanova, deputy chief physician for medical affairs, are charged with negligence. Investigators allege they failed to ensure the barium sulfate used for fluoroscopy was approved for medical use, a violation of their job descriptions. Tests revealed the chemical reagent contained substances such as strontium and barium nitrate.

A direct causal link has been established between the procedure and the deaths of seven victims. One patient suffered serious harm, three suffered minor harm, and 40 suffered moderate harm.

Other individuals involved, including chief physician Evgeny Popov and radiologist Natalya Surovenko, are subject to separate proceedings. Popov reportedly left for the special military operation zone. Senior nurse Marina Efremova, another defendant, attempted suicide.