site.btaBulgarian Medical Association Urges Against Generalizing Isolated Patient Complaints

The Bulgarian Medical Association (BMA) has expressed concern over the growing tendency to generalize isolated incidents involving healthcare professionals, and called for trust, understanding, and balance in the public dialogue. The BMA issued a statement to the media on Tuesday in response to recent public reactions following a young mother’s complaint of unprofessional behavior at Mother’s Home, an obstetrics and gynecology hospital in Sofia.

The BMA stated: “We fully respect every patient’s right to seek explanations, justice, and humane treatment during the medical process. Society is right to expect not only professionalism from physicians but also compassion. Mercy is among the most essential qualities of the medical profession, the ability to show empathy, offer reassurance, and stand by the patient with respect is key. This should not be an exception, but a fundamental principle on which trust in the healing process is built. We firmly believe that every complaint or report should be reviewed objectively and transparently by the competent authorities, including institutions responsible for medical oversight and ethics”.

At the same time, the BMA strongly condemned what it describes as a growing tendency for individual cases to result in generalized public backlash against the entire medical profession. "Once again, a private issue is being generalized, leading to condemnation of the medical profession, entire hospitals, departments, and healthcare teams. Individual incidents with negative connotations are often publicly discussed, while thousands of positive examples of dedication, professionalism, and successful treatment go unnoticed. This not only undermines public trust in the healthcare system but also causes moral and professional damage to the thousands of doctors who work daily under pressure and with limited resources," the BMA said.

The organization reaffirmed its support for efforts to improve the quality of medical care, increase transparency, and promote effective communication between patients and healthcare providers.

"We must not forget, however, that society's attitude toward doctors is crucial. Pressure, stigmatization, and unrealistic expectations not only demotivate professionals but also drive many young doctors to leave the country. If we want to retain skilled professionals and develop a sustainable healthcare system, we must foster an environment of respect, partnership, and understanding between doctors and patients," the statement concluded.

A young mother has alleged that she was subjected to physical and verbal abuse during the birth of her child at Mother’s Home on June 25. In a Facebook post, she claimed she was slapped on the face and hands by midwife Dr. Shikova, who also shouted at and insulted her during childbirth. On July 11, the hospital issued a statement saying the woman had not reported any misconduct, either verbally or in writing, during her stay. Dr. Shikova denied the allegations. The hospital launched an internal investigation and reported that many of the claims did not correspond to the facts.

The head of the hospital’s delivery ward, Dr. Sergey Slavov, told journalists that all members of the on-duty team reported no signs of physical aggression toward the patient. Slavov added that the Executive Agency Medical Supervision had also launched an independent probe into the matter.

Health Minister Silvi Kirilov said that the Ministry would wait for the results of the investigation before making an administrative decision.

Protest and counter-protest events were held Tuesday in front of the hospital in connection with the incident.