M.D. Accused of Trying to Kill Baby

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

M.D. accused of trying to kill baby

By Claudia Pinto / Daily Progress staff writer

May 21, 2005

A former University of Virginia Medical Center pediatrician has been arrested and charged with the attempted murder of his 11-month-old daughter, after she sustained serious injuries from water intoxication.

Dr. Iain Gainov, 38, of Fox Crest Way, is being held without bond at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. Albemarle County Police Lt. John Teixeira said the baby is "safe and secure with a relative" but would not elaborate.

The baby was treated at UVa hospital in early March after absorbing dangerously high levels of water. Police said "other possible signs of abuse" also were discovered.

"This arrest has arisen from a 2 ½ month investigation in conjunction with the Department of Social Services," Teixeira said.

Dr. Chris Holstege, UVa Medical Center's director of medical toxicology, said he's never treated a case of forced water intoxication but he's read about such cases of abuse in medical journals. He pointed to a 1999 article in the journal Pediatrics that documents three cases of fatal child abuse by forced water intoxication.

"In forced water intoxication cases, children are forced to drink water for abuse or punishment," Holstege said. "Is it common? No. Is it out there? Yes."

The results of water intoxication can range from lethargy to brain damage to death. The amount of water that can cause harm depends on a person's weight and the time span in which it was ingested, among other factors.

"Your kidneys can't keep up with it," he said. "When you have too much water, your body salts start to drop out. Your brain and other organs can't handle that well. Your blood changes and your sodium drops."

Peter Jump, UVa Medical Center spokesman, said Gainov was fired on March 10 and offered the following statement:

"Because of the seriousness of this matter and because we do not want to prejudice any legal proceedings, we cannot comment on the allegations, Gainov's arrest or his conduct while at UVa Medical Center. The Medical Center will fully cooperate with the police in their investigation and provide all relevant information to the authorities."

Meanwhile, amid the finely manicured lawns and near-identical houses on Fox Crest Way, people were shocked by the allegations against the pediatrician.

"They are fabulous neighbors," said a woman who declined to give her name. "I cannot believe it's true but I don't know the facts."

A man who answered the door of the Gainovs' residence declined to comment, passed a reporter an attorney's business card and said "talk to the lawyer." The lawyer, Hank Childress, who represents Gainov's wife Colleen, said there have been no allegations that his client was involved in wrongdoing.

"She doesn't have any knowledge of what happened," Childress said. "She's sick about the whole thing."

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