Prosecutors launch investigation into suspected abuse of parental rights after infant death

Vilnius County Prosecutor’s Office has initiated a pre-trial investigation following the death of an infant at Kaunas Clinics at the end of July, with suspicions of abuse of parental rights or duties, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office.

The investigation was launched after evaluating information provided by the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service and determining that all necessary measures must be taken to either confirm or refute allegations of a potential criminal act. This can only be achieved through a pre-trial investigation and procedural actions.

Prosecutors will assess whether a suspected delay by the parents in seeking medical assistance may have contributed to the emergence of a life-threatening condition for the child.

The pre-trial investigation began after receiving additional information from the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service and the annulment of a July 15 decision by Ukmergė District Police Commissariat of the Vilnius County Chief Police Commissariat to refuse to initiate a pre-trial investigation.

The investigation is organised and supervised by a prosecutor from the specialised division of the Vilnius County Prosecutor’s Office, with officers from the Vilnius County Chief Police Commissariat conducting the inquiry.