Romanian-American doctor: Underfunded healthcare system makes doctors criminal victims

Professor Theo Trandafirescu, a Romanian-American physician and professor at New York's Mount Sinai University, criticizes Romania's healthcare system for turning doctors into "penal victims." He argues that chronic underfunding forces medical professionals into impossible situations, such as triaging patients due to bed shortages. These decisions, dictated by systemic failure, can lead to individual criminal liability for doctors.

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The subfinancing is transformed into criminal vulnerability.

Trandafirescu explains that this environment fosters "structural vulnerabilities" and the "envelope" culture, pushing many young doctors to seek opportunities abroad. In countries where health and education are prioritized, they can develop professionally without facing such systemic pressures. The "commercialization and corporatization of medicine," he notes, has transformed the profession into a business, prioritizing profit over quality care and eroding mutual trust.

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Doctors in Romania are often victims of the system.

The professor highlights the severe time constraints and administrative burdens placed on doctors. With reimbursements decreasing and administrative tasks increasing, the time allocated for patient consultations has drastically reduced. Doctors spend a significant portion of their professional time on non-patient-care activities, leaving little time to understand patients' needs or provide comprehensive care. This contributes to burnout and a broader crisis in the doctor-patient relationship.

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The relationship between doctor and patient deteriorates due to technological, economic, and sociocultural factors that have profoundly modified the dynamics of the clinical act.