Reports of a patient’s death and a year-long delay in communicating a cancer diagnosis at a Thessaloniki military hospital, along with the promotion of a doctor convicted of manslaughter for the deaths of three patients in Arta, have raised serious concerns about the safety of Greece’s hospitals.
Death and Tragic Delays at Thessaloniki’s 424 General Military Training Hospital
On November 3, 2023, a 27-year-old soldier underwent thyroid and lymph node surgery at Thessaloniki’s 424 Military Hospital. Tragically, he died just three hours later. His father has accused the hospital of critical errors and omissions that led to his son’s death.
In media interviews, the father claims the doctors used unsafe techniques and ignored his son’s complaints of breathing difficulties in the recovery ward.
Despite repeated requests for answers, the father says the hospital leadership and administrative remain tight-lipped.
Separately, Greece’s Minister of Defence Nikos Dendias has ordered an investigation into another case at the same hospital, where the hospital allegedly took one year communicate biopsy results.
According to media reports, on December 11, 2022, the officer was diagnosed with acute appendicitis and underwent surgery. One year later, on December 10, 2023, the hospital informed the officer that a biopsy taken at the time of his surgery in 2022 showed that he has cancer.
During that year-long delay, the cancer metastasized. The officer has since undergone two additional surgeries and remains in critical condition. He has filed a lawsuit against the hospital, alleging negligence.
Promotion of ‘Deadly’ Doctor
The news of potential malpractice at the Thessaloniki military hospital have brought other instances of medical malpractice at Greece’s hospitals to light, including the controversial promotion of a doctor in the northwest region of Arta.
According to an article at To Vima, a doctor at a hospital in Arta has three convictions for medical malpractice, which led to the deaths of the patients, and has been sentenced to 22 months in prison.
Despite the convictions, the doctor was promoted to department head at the hospital. The Ministry of Health has now launched an investigation into the case, following public outrage over the promotion.
Medical Malpractice Rates in Hospitals and Medical Settings Remain Elusive
A 2024 World Health Organization report on Global Patient Safety reveals that unsafe medical care is a global issue, with over 12% of patients experiencing harm in medical settings- much of it preventable.
The severity of harm varies and can happen in hospitals, clinics, private practices and informal settings, with around 12% of ‘adverse events’ leading to permanent disability or death.
In Greece, as in many countries, the true scale is malpractice is unclear.
The challenge stems from different definitions of malpractice, a lack of centralized and reliable data, and underreporting by both doctors and patients.
