Vranić calls on the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office to determine what happened in the case of Džena Gadžun's death

(Patria) - Minister of Health of the Sarajevo Canton Haris Vranić issued a public statement regarding the case of the deceased Džena Gadžun, an investigation into which has been led by the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office for nine months.

"Like all citizens, I was sincerely and deeply affected by the news of the death of two-year-old girl Džena Gadžun. As I am currently also the Minister of Health of the Sarajevo Canton, I felt a special responsibility and obligation to immediately contact the girl's family and offer all the help they needed. As Minister of Health, as a doctor, and above all as a human being and a parent, I wanted to find out what happened that fateful day in the doctor's office.

I also sent the competent inspection to the scene and called the director of the Cantonal Institute for Emergency Medical Assistance. I requested from the director of the Institute and the inspector that they provide me with the findings regarding the tragic event.

I immediately requested from the Medical Chamber of the Sarajevo Canton that they provide me with the necessary work permits and licenses for independent work of the mentioned doctors for review. I also requested that a check be carried out to see if the medical equipment was certified. In connection with the above, I note that all these findings and documents have already been made available to the public.

Unfortunately, the autopsy report was never submitted to me. It is also known that the doctor who was the operator did not have a valid license to work in the Sarajevo Canton.

All the documentation we obtained in the Ministry, we submitted to the competent Cantonal Prosecutor's Office in Sarajevo. There ends the jurisdiction of the Ministry and me as minister, regarding the taking of legal steps in connection with the tragic event.

I hope and believe that the judicial authorities will establish all relevant facts, and that the case will be resolved within the framework of the law. Of course, nothing can diminish the parents' pain, nor replace the lost child's life, but both they and the public deserve to know the truth, just as the competent judicial institutions should determine the existence of responsibility. I share the opinion with all those who believe that this whole thing is taking too long, but that is in no way within my jurisdiction.

Once again, I want to emphasize that I feel great sorrow for the lost child's life and have full understanding for the parents' pain. Precisely out of respect for that pain, I consider it inappropriate for this tragedy to be used for politicking and an attempt to score cheap political points, by seeking blame where it does not exist.

I, above all, also want to know exactly what happened during the operation and why an innocent child's life was extinguished. This is only possible if the competent Prosecutor's Office, without delay, thoroughly, professionally and impartially determines exactly what happened, takes appropriate measures, and informs the public, and above all the parents, about it.

Due to inappropriate and unfounded accusations, I want to say that I have taken the Hippocratic Oath, as well as the oath of a member of the Government of the Sarajevo Canton, with a pure heart and sincerely. For me, human life is sacred, and I am doing everything in my power and within the framework of the law to prevent any unscrupulous work in the field of healthcare," Vranić stated.