June 22, 2012 - 14:33 AMT
Health Ministry decides against transfer of severely beaten doctor abroad – paper

A newly-appointed Health Minister Derenik Dumanyan told Aravot daily that a council of physicians was convened to discuss further steps in the treatment of the head of Urology Department at RA Defense Ministry Hospital, Major Vahe Avetyan, severely beaten at Harsnakar restaurant, the daily said.

As the Minister said, the doctors resolved against inviting a foreign specialist or transferring Avetyan to a hospital abroad.

“At present, doctors have established round the clock observation; we hope to be able to save the major’s life,” the minister told the daily’s reporter.

Several doctors have been beaten up in recent years, the Minister said, citing the incident with ambulance doctor in Shirak province.

As a result of June 17 brawl at Harsnakar Restaurant, military doctors Vahe Avetyan and Artak Bayadyan were hospitalized with serious injuries. Doctor Garik Soghomonyan was transferred to the Central Military Hospital with skull trauma. Doctors say that their health condition remains unchanged after the incident.

Four people, including MP Ruben Hayrapetyan’s bodyguard, have been arrested on charges of causing life-threatening bodily injuries to two and more persons.