Criminal Complaint Filed by Niš UKC Director Against Cardiology Doctors Regarding Scientific Research Conducted During COVID State of Emergency Rejected
The Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Niš has dismissed a criminal complaint filed over two years ago by the acting director of the University Clinical Center, Dr. Zoran Perišić, against seven employees of the Clinic for Cardiac Surgery for alleged document forgery during scientific research conducted during the state of emergency in Serbia declared due to the COVID epidemic in 2020.
TL;DR
- The Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Niš dismissed a criminal complaint against seven employees of the Clinic for Cardiac Surgery.
- The complaint was filed by Dr. Zoran Perišić, acting director of the University Clinical Center, alleging document forgery during a 2020 COVID-19 research study.
- Prosecutors determined there was no reasonable suspicion of a criminal offense based on the presented evidence.
- The research involved studying the propensity of COVID patients for thrombosis.
- Dr. Perišić claimed a document used for the research had a clinic stamp that was issued 15 months after the document's date.
- The Prosecutor's Office stated that the original decision of the Ethics Committee was signed by members and did not have any clinic stamp.
- A previous criminal complaint filed by Dr. Perišić against the director of Cardiac Surgery, Dr. Dragan Milić, for alleged abuse of office was also dismissed.
- Dr. Milić denied any wrongdoing and stated the research followed professional and legal standards.
- Dr. Milić, commenting on social media, stated that the Clinic for Cardiac Surgery expects Dr. Perišić to resign.
- Dr. Perišić declined to comment on the court's decision or Dr. Milić's statements.