Romanian authorities are investigating a network of doctors who allegedly performed heart operations that were not medically necessary and implanted implants in patients who had already been removed from cadavers. According to the Public Ministry, a suspect was arrested on Saturday night.
Pacemakers of Dead People
The cardiologist at a hospital in Iasi used a total of 238 medical implants “of unknown origin” between 2017 and 2022, investigators said.
According to the prosecutor, some of the implants used by the doctor, such as pacemakers or defibrillators, were taken from dead patients. By illegally reusing it, he endangered the lives of recipients. The cardiologist is suspected of leading a network with at least four other doctors who allegedly obtained implants for him.
Intentionally making patients sick
Much of the implant insertion operations were medically unfounded, the investigating authority said. Patients were given “dummy diagnoses” and, in some cases, cardiac symptoms were produced specifically by drug administration.
New scandals in the health sector
Romania, which has been part of the European Union since 2007, spends less money on its healthcare system compared to the EU. The country’s public health system has been rocked by numerous scandals and corruption scandals in recent years.