Larissa Hospital Scandal: Heart Surgeon Arrested for Bribery

The news in Greek

1. καρδιοθωρακοχειρουργός  (m.)
   Ιατρός ειδικευμένος σε χειρουργικές επεμβάσεις στο θώρακα και την καρδιά. ↩︎
2. δωροδοκία  (f.)
   Παράνομη πράξη κατά την οποία κάποιος δίνει χρήματα για προσωπικό όφελος. ↩︎
3. επέμβαση  (f.)
   Χειρουργική διαδικασία για θεραπευτικό σκοπό. ↩︎
4. συνεργός  (m.)
   Αυτός που βοηθά άλλον σε αδίκημα ή έγκλημα. ↩︎
5. υπουργός  (m.)
   Πρόσωπο επικεφαλής ενός υπουργείου στην κυβέρνηση. ↩︎
6. καταδικάζω
   Εκφράζω επίσημα απόλυτη αποδοκιμασία ή αντίθεση. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What amount of money did the heart surgeon ask for as a bribe?

Question 2: Who condemned the incident at the hospital?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
καρδιοθωρακοχειρουργός  (m.)	cardiothoracic surgeon
δωροδοκία  (f.)	bribery
επέμβαση  (f.)	operation
συνεργός  (m.)	accomplice
υπουργός  (m.)	minister
καταδικάζω	condemn

Read the full story

In a significant development at the Larissa Hospital in Greece, a senior cardiothoracic surgeon has been arrested on charges of bribery. The arrest was carried out by the Internal Affairs Service of Northern Greece, following a detailed investigation that uncovered illicit financial activities involving unpaid sums.

The surgeon, a 60-year-old well-known academic and head of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinic, was apprehended after allegedly receiving a sum of €2,500 from a patient’s relative. This amount is said to have been demanded as a precondition for performing a medical procedure. The bribery charge has been extended to an additional, similar transaction as investigations revealed.

Authorities also highlighted the involvement of another medical professional, a 53-year-old cardiologist and director at the same hospital, who is implicated as an accessory to bribery. He will face court proceedings but has not been detained due to legal nuances regarding the timing of the crime.

As part of the sting operation, the alleged amount transferred was pre-marked by the police. The undercover arrangement was set in motion after a complaint from the patient’s family member, who was encouraged by the cardiologist to negotiate a deal with the surgeon. Following the cash exchange in the surgeon’s office, authorities intervened and seized the evidence along with an additional €11,250 discovered in the office.

In response, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis expressed his disapproval through a social media statement and ordered the surgeon’s immediate suspension from duty, cancelling all planned procedures under his supervision. The minister emphasised the ongoing governmental measures to accommodate medical professionals within ethical frameworks, including the option for private practice and additional compensation through afternoon surgeries.

Minister Georgiadis reproachfully remarked on the persistence of unethical conduct among a minority of practitioners in the public health sector, viewing the incident as a breach of trust at a critical moment for patients and their families.

This case has sparked broader discussions about the integrity within Greece’s public healthcare system, highlighting the challenges of eradicating informal payment practices, often referred to locally as “fakelaki” or “envelope money,” which remain a concern for reform efforts.

Info: ‘Greek Learner News’ is a service from ‘Let’s Learn Greek’, where we specialise in teaching the Greek language through a comprehensive range of online courses. As a Greek language school, we offer classes that cater to various skill levels, ensuring that each learner’s needs are met.