MSWIA Hospital

Poland: Sex required in trade for operation at Polish hospital

Warsaw, Poland 17 February, 2007 Gift giving and bribery at Polish hospitals is dominating the news in Poland after the arrest of a heart surgeon on charges of murder and corruption. A Polish tabloid adds the revelation that he may have received sex from a patient's daughter in order to do an operation.

The Polish Government Anti Corruption Bureau (CBA) arrested a "respected" hearth surgeon after an extended investigation. He was charged with murder and corruption. Stacks of cash and gifts given to him by patients were taken as evidence.

The investigation prior to the arrest included bugging the doctors office and listening to his telephone conversations. In the months of listening, the number of people ensnared is reportedly large.

The publicity surrounding the arrest has given the opportunity for those who want attention to start rumors, make statements and do their political posturing

One of the tabloids headlined that the doctor would not perform an operation on a patient unless he received sexual favors from the patient's daughter.

In a highly criticized statement, the Minister of Justice called the doctor a murderer. The Minister of Health had earlier agreed that the death in question was a case of medical error.

Another said that the doctor had left completion of a heart transplant to an assistant while he left to take a phone call to accept an invitation to a party. The assistant is said to have finished the heart transplant but the patient died.

The CBA has said little more than that further arrests will be made.

The Director of the Hospital has resigned. http://www.zw.com.pl/zw2/index.jsp?place=Lead04&news_cat_id=8&news_id=148790&layout=0&forum_id=24841&page=text