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Man denied emergency care at Lublin hospital as prosecutors open inquiry; disciplinary action possible
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ Poland /Health & Science

Man denied emergency care at Lublin hospital as prosecutors open inquiry; disciplinary action possible

From Rzeczpospolita · () Polish

Translated from Polish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Prosecutors in Lublin opened an inquiry into whether emergency-department staff failed to assist a man who later received lifesaving heart-attack treatment elsewhere.
  • Hospital director Piotr Matej said security cameras showed the patient waiting at the entrance without receiving help and called the conduct unacceptable.
  • The director began disciplinary proceedings against two staff members, while the National Health Fund requested information about the case.

A man suffering a heart attack stood for five minutes outside a locked emergency-department door in Lublin, repeatedly ringing a bell without receiving help, according to the case under investigation.

Jarosล‚aw Brodziak became ill during the night of Aug. 15-16, experiencing chills, chest pressure, shortness of breath, diarrhea and vomiting. As his condition quickly worsened, he went with his wife after 3 a.m. to the emergency department of the Regional Specialist Hospital in Lublin on Herberta Street.

The footage showed a patient standing by the door who did not receive help.

โ€” Piotr MatejThe Lublin hospital director said security-camera footage confirmed the patient waited outside without assistance.

The entrance displayed a notice asking people to ring the bell after 10 p.m. Brodziak rang it unsuccessfully for about five minutes. His wife eventually called an ambulance. Paramedics diagnosed a heart attack and took him to the Lublin Ministry of Interior and Administration hospital, where he underwent lifesaving treatment. Doctors reportedly told him he had survived by a miracle.

After Radio ZET publicized the case, hospital director Piotr Matej notified prosecutors of a possible failure by hospital staff to provide assistance. Matej said security footage confirmed that the patient stood by the door without receiving help and described the staffโ€™s conduct as unacceptable.

unacceptable

โ€” Piotr MatejThe director characterized the emergency-department staffโ€™s conduct after reviewing the case.

The Lublin district prosecutorโ€™s office opened an inquiry under the provision concerning exposing a person to an immediate risk of death or serious injury. The offense carries a possible prison sentence of three months to five years. Prosecutors are expected to question Matej as the notifying party and secure Brodziakโ€™s medical records. The National Health Fund has also requested information from the hospital.

The director ordered staff to provide explanations and opened disciplinary proceedings against the two people on duty, including the possibility of dismissal. The employees say they did not hear the bell, but the account provided does not explain why they failed to respond.

After hearing the employees, I opened disciplinary proceedings against two people who were on duty at the time, including the possibility of applying Article 52 of the Labour Code, meaning dismissal on disciplinary grounds.

โ€” Piotr MatejThe hospital director described the disciplinary action being considered against the staff members.
About this summary

Originally published by Rzeczpospolita in Polish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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