Medical negligence and misconduct reported in Slovakia and Poland

Two separate medical incidents involving professional misconduct and negligence have been reported in Slovakia and Poland.

In Nitra, Slovakia, a 65-year-old man with severe hypertension waited six hours in an emergency department due to a documentation error. The hospital admitted that a triage sheet was mistakenly placed in another patient's file, causing the man to be categorized as a non-acute case. The hospital is reviewing the incident and implementing rule changes to prevent recurrence.

In Warsaw, Poland, a 33-year-old resident physician was found to be working under the influence of alcohol at a private clinic. After staff alerted police, breathalyzer tests revealed a blood alcohol content of nearly 1.4 per mille. The doctor had treated 11 patients and conducted 12 teleconsultations before being intercepted. He faces potential criminal charges for exposing patients to immediate danger of life or serious health damage, which could carry a prison sentence of up to five years.