Croatia arrests four nurses over psychiatric patient death

Croatian police have arrested four nurses suspected of causing the death of a 32-year-old psychiatric patient at Zagreb's Sveti Ivan hospital by using excessive force, a Zagreb county court spokesman said Monday.

The four men were arrested Sunday on suspicion of aggravated murder. Court spokesman Kresimir Devcic said the patient had been admitted on October 21 in a psychotic state and that the suspects are accused of using force in violation of medical standards.

Police said the patient was lying in bed, partly restrained with straps and trying to free himself when the suspects acted together to restrain him by physical force. A police statement said injuries from that restraint led to the patient's death.

Health Minister Irena Hrstic offered condolences to the patient's family and called the case extremely concerning. The Croatian nurses' union urged against premature judgments, while dozens of hospital employees gathered outside the facility seeking a full finding of the circumstances before conclusions about responsibility.

The employees also warned of inadequate protection for healthcare workers, who they said face daily risks in psychiatric wards.