Uzbekistan Reports Two Child Deaths After Medical Procedure

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Two minors have died in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region following circumcision procedures carried out at a district medical facility, according to information reported by relatives and cited in local media.

The incidents took place in the Ishtikhon district, where both children were admitted to the district medical association in satisfactory condition before undergoing surgery. According to the reports, the required pre-operative medical tests were not conducted prior to the procedures.

The first case occurred on 22 March, when a five-year-old boy underwent surgery. The following day, the child began to experience bleeding. Family members said a medical worker performed a dressing and assured them that the condition was stable. However, the patient later developed a high temperature.

Despite following medical advice, the child’s condition did not improve. On March 27, a surgeon was called to the home and reportedly suggested that the symptoms were related to a common cold. The child was later taken to hospital in worsening condition and placed in intensive care, where death was recorded approximately 30 minutes after admission.

The second incident occurred on 3 April, when another patient underwent a similar procedure. The child developed a high fever and signs of an allergic reaction afterward. Relatives were reportedly told that such symptoms were temporary and within a normal range. The child died on April 8. According to the family, no preliminary medical examination had been carried out before the operation.

Uzbekistan’s General Prosecutor’s Office said on 2 May that a criminal case had been opened under Part 3 of Article 116 of the Criminal Code, which concerns negligent performance of professional duties by medical workers resulting in serious consequences. Investigative actions include additional inquiries, face-to-face confrontations, and exhumation procedures.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the deaths and assess the actions of medical staff involved in the cases.