(18 February 2026 | Source: Facebook page of Aitbek Aulbayev)
Balqash City Court found the head of the surgical department of a multi-disciplinary hospital guilty of negligence resulting in the death of Meruert Aulbayeva, but the doctor was released from criminal punishment due to the expiry of the two-year statute of limitations.
Now the victim's brother, Aitbek Aulbayev, has reported new circumstances: according to him, during the period when the court proceedings were suspended due to the defendant's illness, the latter managed to complete a professional development course and obtain professional certificates.
WHAT HAPPENED TO MERUERT AULBAYEVA
Meruert Aulbayeva died on 6 November 2023 — after a surgeon at the Balqash hospital performed three operations with critical violations and did not operate on her for a week while she had purulent peritonitis. The court found him guilty, also recording more than 200 amendments to the medical records made after the patient's death.
Despite proven guilt, the court released the doctor from criminal liability because the two-year statute of limitations provided for this category of cases had expired.
COURSES DURING THE SUSPENSION OF THE CASE
According to the words of Aitbek Aulbayev, during the court process the case was repeatedly suspended due to the defendant's illness. It was during this period, he claims, that the doctor completed a professional development course in radiodiagnostics and obtained the relevant certificates.
Aitbek Aulbayev views this as evidence that the defendant's state of health did not prevent him from carrying out his professional activities.
"The financial aspect looks particularly cynical. Taking professional development courses and obtaining certificates during a period of 'illness' indicates that the defendant maintained his professional competence and income. In effect, the resources of the MHI (Mandatory Health Insurance - ed. note of FBRK) system and state training were used so that a person accused of a patient's death not only remained free but also waited out the statute of limitations as comfortably as possible," he wrote on his personal Facebook page.
Ultimately, the family of Meruert Aulbayeva endured two years of investigation and court proceedings for a single outcome — the official acknowledgment of the doctor's guilt, who was never punished.