A 34-year-old patient has filed a complaint against a Nicosia surgeon, alleging medical negligence and fraud.
The patient claims that during a scheduled inguinal hernia repair surgery on January 12, 2024, the doctor caused an iatrogenic injury to his right iliac artery, resulting in ongoing health issues.
According to a letter sent to Nicosia Police Headquarters by the patient’s lawyer, Theodoulos Papavasileiou, the planned hernia surgery was never completed, despite the doctor allegedly receiving payment from the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO).
The complaint states that due to the medical emergency, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit of a private hospital.
He then underwent surgery to repair the injured artery, with a stent placed by a team of vascular surgeons.
The patient was hospitalised for 18 days. Upon discharge, the doctor’s report allegedly indicated that a hernia repair with mesh placement had been performed, along with other procedures.
However, the complainant asserts that subsequent examinations by four other doctors revealed no evidence of a hernia or the reported surgical interventions.
An independent medical expert, appointed by the patient, concluded that the accused doctor “was negligent in performing his medical duties intraoperatively, while there was no clear indication of an inguinal hernia requiring surgery”.
Papavasileiou told philenews that he has requested a police investigation into the alleged medical negligence and fraud.
He has also filed a complaint with the HIO, calling for an inquiry into the payment for a surgery that allegedly did not take place.