Karolovo Infant Death Sparks Investigation into Emergency Room Care

A two‑month‑old baby died on Wednesday morning in the emergency department of the hospital in Karolovo, Bulgaria, after the child was first sent home with a diagnosis of a simple cold. The family says the infant was turned away twice; the first time the medical staff allegedly told the mother, "Каква майка си, не можеш ли да отпушиш носа на детето?" and the second time the child was brought back only after his condition sharply worsened and he began to turn yellow.

The relatives accuse the doctors of negligence and of harsh treatment, quoting a physician who supposedly said to the mother, "Какво плачеш като животно?". They demand a full inquiry into whether a medical error contributed to the fatal outcome.

The Plovdiv district prosecutor’s office and police have opened a criminal investigation, and a forensic autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death. The hospital’s pediatric department confirms the baby was never hospitalized there, while health inspectors and the regional emergency medical centre are expected to release their findings.