Warsaw South Hospital faces multiple prosecutions over illegal body‑trade scandal

Polish prosecutors have opened a series of investigations into Warsaw’s South Hospital (Szpital Południowy) after allegations surfaced of an illegal market for deceased bodies. According to media reports, the hospital’s prosectorium was run by coordinator Artur Habowski, who allegedly maintained a secret price list for services such as releasing bodies and directing families to specific funeral firms that paid him. Families and funeral homes have claimed that bodies were sometimes withheld or marked for profit, and that urine was reportedly poured on corpses. Prosecutors declined to pursue charges related to the publication of autopsy photos on social media, deeming the posts educational rather than offensive. Separate probes concern suspected tampering with death certificates for about 20 deceased persons and a total of 32 criminal matters linked to the hospital’s operations. The current hospital board has announced plans to request a parliamentary commission to identify responsible parties, while the former board filed two complaints about illegal surveillance and breach of medical confidentiality.

The scandal has drawn criticism of hospital management, raised concerns about patient safety and highlighted the need for stricter oversight of forensic facilities in Poland.