In St. Petersburg, charges were brought against a priest and his wife who did not treat their daughter for HIV • Meduza • RIMA

In St. Petersburg, charges were brought against a priest and his wife who did not treat their daughter for HIV

In St. Petersburg, a couple whose adopted daughter died as a result of her parents' refusal to treat her for HIV were charged with causing death by negligence and leaving in danger. This was reported by the main department of the RF IC in St. Petersburg.

Based on the circumstances of the case made public by the Investigative Committee, we are talking about an Orthodox priest and his wife, whose adopted daughter died of HIV in August 2017. According to the publication "Orthodoxy and the World", the priest's name is Georgy Sychev.

Currently, the investigation of the criminal case is at the final stage, it is planned to send the materials of the criminal case to the prosecutor's office with an indictment.

investigative committee

In 2011, in St. Petersburg, a priest and his wife adopted a girl who was born with HIV and was observed by doctors at the AIDS center before adoption, which the adoptive parents knew about.
In 2013, the girl was diagnosed with indications for antiretroviral therapy (ARVT), but her parents ignored the recommendation. A year later, doctors found that the disease was progressing. After the persuasion of the doctors, the adoptive father agreed to the use of ARVT in a hospital setting.
In 2015, the girl was hospitalized with pneumonia, while her adoptive mother did not report her diagnosis. Doctors, however, resumed ART, but soon the woman took her adopted daughter home. After that, the priest and his wife did not take the child for examinations and did not treat her.
In May 2016, by a court decision, the girl was sent to intensive care, and on August 26, 2017, she died from severe immunodeficiency and concomitant diseases.
Adoptive parents refused to treat the child for religious reasons, although the Russian Orthodox Church does not officially deny AIDS. In addition, the priest and his wife subscribed to the widespread belief among HIV dissidents that AIDS was invented by drug companies.