The trial of three doctors over the death of a 6-year-old boy during dental treatment under full anaesthesia opens today at the Regional Court in Plovdiv.

The defendants are two anaesthetists and a dentist. Two of the three are charged with causing death through negligent practice of the medical profession. The prosecutors' indictment says the charge relates to their actions during the dental treatment under general anaesthesia.

The third doctor is charged with practising dentistry in breach of the rules. All three are presumed innocent until a verdict comes into force.

At the preliminary hearing, the court will check the indictment for irregularities and see whether the rights of both sides were respected. It will decide whether to send the case back to the prosecutors, and whether the trial goes ahead under the general procedure.

The trial will then examine the circumstances of the procedure, the actions of each defendant and the cause of death. The court will look for any failings and decide what responsibility each of the three bears.

The case drew wide public attention. It raised questions about the safety of dental procedures under full anaesthesia for small children, and about the responsibility of medical teams during such procedures.

The boy died during the procedure in Plovdiv on 4 April last year, 18 months before the trial began.