Chișinău beauty salon death: Husband accuses cover-up
Roman Babițchi, the husband of businesswoman Liuba Babițchi, who tragically lost her life in a beauty salon in Chișinău, has broken his silence to reveal new details surrounding her death.
He claims that his wife had already passed away before the ambulance arrived and accuses both the salon owner and the anesthesiologist of attempting to cover up the incident. According to Babițchi, he physically prevented the anesthesiologist from fleeing the scene and was forced to call the police himself, criticizing their unprepared response upon arrival.
Babițchi recounts that on January 30, his wife underwent multiple cosmetic procedures, including buttock augmentation and enhancements to her chin and lips. When he arrived at the salon around 1:15 p.m. to pick her up, she did not answer his calls, prompting him to enter the premises. There, he encountered the salon administrator and the anesthesiologist, both visibly shaken and with blood stains on their clothing.
“They injected her with 14 doses of adrenaline, administering one dose every three minutes. The medical team did everything possible to save her. Even after all those doses, they transported her to the Emergency Hospital, hoping for a miracle,” Babițchi stated. “Based on the information I received, Liuba died long before the ambulance was called. I believe my wife had no chance of survival. I suspect the anesthesiologist and salon staff panicked because they lacked proper documentation and licenses, deciding to cover up the facts instead of calling for medical help immediately.”
Babițchi further revealed that immediately after the incident, the anesthesiologist attempted to flee, but he managed to block her path until the police arrived. He also claimed that the police were initially denied entry under the pretext that the investigation should be handled exclusively by criminal investigation officers.
“We sincerely regret the incompetence displayed by the medical professionals present at the scene, as well as by the specialists from the General Police Inspectorate (IGP) who arrived that day. No efforts were made to collect or secure evidence until February 3,” stated the family’s lawyer, Oxana Ivanov.
Ivanov added that several forensic examinations, including some conducted abroad, have been ordered to determine the exact cause of Liuba Babițchi’s death. Her husband has vowed to pursue justice relentlessly.
In response, Viorel Cernăuțeanu, Chief of the General Police Inspectorate, refuted the allegations, asserting that the police were notified only after the medical team confirmed the death.
“When the ambulance arrived, paramedics provided first aid for 40 minutes before transferring the patient to the Emergency Hospital. According to the information received, they transported a patient, not a deceased person. The police were informed approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes later by medical services, which is standard protocol after confirming a death,” Cernăuțeanu explained to Teleradio-Moldova.
Cernăuțeanu also stated that shortly after the ambulance departed for the hospital, the salon owner left the premises and crossed the border out of Moldova. “By the time the police were notified of the confirmed death, the salon owner had already left the country.”
He further noted that the investigation team has yet to receive the forensic report establishing the precise cause of death. He dismissed Babițchi’s claim of personally alerting the police, adding, “I want to understand when exactly the police were called. We were informed by the medical institution. Immediately after receiving the alert, the criminal investigation unit was dispatched to examine the scene. The cause of death will be detailed in the medical report. Additionally, the Ministry of Health has confirmed that such procedures were unauthorized, which already points to illegal activity or negligence. We await the forensic report to clarify the exact circumstances behind the victim's death.”
It is important to note that the 35-year-old woman, owner of a clothing store in a Chișinău shopping center, died on January 30 at the beauty salon. Sources close to the investigation suggested that she had been administered general anesthesia, though it remains unclear whether she was adequately monitored during the procedure.
Meanwhile, the General Prosecutor’s Office has opened a criminal case for “negligent violation of medical assistance regulations,” which resulted in the patient’s death. Despite the investigators’ efforts, including on-site inspections and forensic analyses to determine the exact circumstances of the tragedy, no suspects had been officially identified four days after the incident.
The National Public Health Agency (ANSP) also announced that the beauty salon where the incident occurred lacked authorization for invasive procedures. The license issued in 2023 covered only non-invasive services such as facial cleansing, ultrasound hair removal, and facial and body massages.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
