The photograph of Giorgos Mazonakis lying in the private medical clinic not only raises the question of whether he was conscious or had already lost his senses when it was taken, but may also lead to upgraded charges against the two arrested doctors. This was pointed out by lawyer Dimitris Anastassopoulos, speaking to ERTnews, who noted that based on what has been made public, the criminal prosecution does not merely establish negligence — it may also indicate intent.
“We heard that they left him for an hour before calling an ambulance, that they didn’t help him but instead took photographs. We cannot, of course, go into the specific details of the case file, but based on what has been reported, a very serious criminal prosecution has been brought under Article 308 — a felony-level charge that applies to cases where a person who has responsibility for another individual, or who renders that individual helpless, fails to provide the necessary care or medical treatment, resulting in that person’s death.
This provision carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years. It goes without saying that this will be thoroughly investigated by the examining authorities, while the two doctors are currently appearing before the competent examining magistrate,” the lawyer stated.
“Every doctor holds a position of guarantee toward anyone who comes into their presence and needs their help — regardless of the setting — and even more so when that person is in their own clinic, and when the doctor’s own actions or omissions have placed that person in danger and left them without assistance,” Mr. Anastassopoulos added. He also recalled that there have been dozens of cases in which doctors were found guilty for failing to provide the necessary care, resulting in death or serious bodily harm.
Giorgos Mazonakis: The possible cover-up — the photograph, its alleged deletion, and the delayed ambulance call
The lawyer also raised the dimensions of a potential cover-up, pointing to the photograph, its alleged deletion, and the delayed call for an ambulance. “Was this negligence, or could it be something more — something that could lead to upgraded charges?” he said pointedly.
During the same broadcast, Pantelis Sarafidis, Director of the First Nephrology Clinic at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, reiterated that it is inconceivable for a plasmapheresis machine to be present in a private clinic, as its use requires experienced and specialized nursing staff. “It is used for extremely serious conditions — in emergency situations for the removal of antibodies that threaten either a patient’s life or a vital organ, such as in rare vascular disorders,” said Mr. Sarafidis.
“The Oversight Committee that has already been established and appointed by the Athens Medical Association must also tell us what happened in the period leading up to this incident. The Ministry of Health, as the supervising authority, must also investigate what took place over all these years at this particular facility — which was actively advertising its services and, as we understand it, attracting a very large number of clients,” he stated.
