A surgeon has been found guilty in the 2021 death of 14-year-old Georgia from Epanomi, Thessaloniki, following a gastric band surgery performed in June of that year. After a lengthy trial, the Mixed Jury Court of Giannitsa convicted the doctor of aggravated fatal negligence and forgery—but acquitted him of document falsification.
Charges and Verdict
The forgery charge related to the alleged falsification of the minor’s signature on pre-surgical consent forms. The other charge stemmed from the surgeon’s failure to provide the operation video when requested by Georgia’s parents ahead of their criminal complaint.
The court imposed a total sentence of seven years and three months’ imprisonment. No mitigating circumstances were recognized. The appeal was granted suspensive effect, subject to a €10,000 bail and a prohibition on performing any medical procedures. As an additional penalty, he was banned from practicing medicine for one year.
Defense and Prior Record
During his testimony, the surgeon denied all accusations and maintained he had acted in accordance with established medical standards, citing his experience with similar bariatric procedures.
Notably, this is not his first conviction: he had previously received two suspended three-year prison sentences—both upheld as final—for the deaths of two other patients following comparable surgeries. The Thessaloniki Council of Misdemeanor Judges reportedly took those prior convictions into account when imposing restrictive conditions—including a ban on participating in surgical procedures—pending the outcome of Georgia’s case.