Amputated Woman Escapes From Hospital: Director Clarifies

Hasmik Smoyan, who has a 1st group disability, complains that she was denied assistance at the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Medical Center because she had no money, despite the fact that she was not charged for services in the past. The woman became disabled as a result of the devastating earthquake in Spitak. She has one amputated leg, cannot move her arm, and suffers from a herniated disc in her spine. Recently, she felt sharp pain in her heart area and decided to seek medical help.

“Last Wednesday, I felt unwell. I thought I might have a heart problem because I had sharp pains in that area. I called for an ambulance, and the doctor checked me and suggested that it was better to take me to the hospital,” said Hasmik Smoyan, adding that she did not go to the institution that day, thinking the feeling would pass. However, since the emergency doctor assured her that it would be free, she went to the hospital the next day after feeling the same pains again.

The doctors performed an EKG and EchoKG, but when they wanted to take a blood test, they informed her that she would need to pay for all the tests. She noted that she could not afford it and would leave. “They should have told me sooner; I wouldn’t have undergone all those tests. Given my condition, they saw that I was on crutches—I have no leg, and my arm doesn’t work at all,” the woman pointed out, adding that after hearing this, she exited the hospital, struggled to walk down the stairs, and after some time, was called back and pressured to pay.

“The doctor angrily told me to leave there, and then added that they know our address and would come after me if I didn’t pay,” Hasmik Smoyan stated.

The disabled woman narrated that in the past, tests had been free, and the institution did not require disability documentation, saying it was not necessary, as everything here was paid, but if the patient decided to stay in the hospital, it would be free. Hasmik Smoyan indicated that she could not stay in the hospital as no one could come to care for her. She suggested that they arrange for treatment at home, but was told they would consider it only after payments were made.

The director of the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Medical Center, Arman Hovakimyan, in response to our inquiry, stated that Hasmik Smoyan complained of elevated blood pressure when she visited the hospital on the specified day. She was examined by the on-duty physician and cardiologist, who diagnosed her with "arterial hypertension / 148 / 78 mmHg", and her condition was assessed as stable, with no indication for hospitalization.

The case was not considered urgent and was handled on an outpatient basis. The woman has frequently experienced high blood pressure but has not consulted a local cardiologist for monitoring, which is provided by the state on a guaranteed free and preferential basis. According to Arman Hovakimyan, she was advised to consult a local doctor and was informed that otherwise the indicated tests would be carried out on a paid basis. A consultation was performed with the general physician and cardiologist, an EKG was conducted, and no indications for hospitalization were issued. The director stated that she was offered to pay for the services provided since they are not difficult to access; however, Hasmik Smoyan refused and voluntarily left the hospital.

Arman Hovakimyan noted that she was treated properly and her rights were not violated. Hasmik Smoyan was trapped under the rubble for four days during the Spitak earthquake in 1988 at the age of 28, and her right leg was amputated to get her out. She cannot move her right arm and, after being treated in Armenia, was taken to Russia, and then to Israel. She also has a herniated disc but cannot receive treatment or undergo surgery.

“I receive a pension of 25,000 AMD as a first group disability, and I used to get 18,000 AMD in support, but they didn’t provide that anymore from this September,” Hasmik Smoyan added, mentioning that her daughter’s family temporarily moved in with her, and social security services came to check and saw she was at home, after which they stopped payments.