Tarnowskie Góry clinic scandal: Doctors refuse to certify death

A 66-year-old woman died on the stairs of a medical clinic in Tarnowskie Góry after collapsing while arriving for a scheduled appointment. Despite the presence of several doctors on duty at the facility, her body remained on the staircase for approximately three hours because no physician would formally certify the death and issue the necessary documentation.

The woman's family reportedly requested assistance from the medical staff, but the impasse was only broken after intervention from the crisis management team and the Tarnowskie Góry Starosta. A doctor from a different clinic eventually arrived to certify the death, allowing the body to be released to the family.

The District Prosecutor's Office in Tarnowskie Góry has launched an investigation to determine if the medical personnel failed to fulfill their professional duties. While legal procedures for death certification exist, prosecutors noted that doctors are not prohibited from providing humanitarian assistance and issuing documentation in such circumstances.