Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday he had instructed his justice minister to personally oversee investigations into allegations of misconduct at a Warsaw hospital following claims by a whistleblower doctor that medical failures may have contributed to patient deaths.
The case centres on Warsaw's Południowy Hospital, where surgeon Emil Jędrzejewski, a former head of the surgery department, alleged in an interview with the online broadcaster Kanał Zero that irregularities in the operation of the hospital's emergency department led to serious complications and, in some cases, the deaths of patients.
Jędrzejewski appeared at the Warsaw District Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday but did not provide testimony, citing the absence of legal counsel, prosecutors said.
A new hearing date has been set for Monday.
Tusk said on X that questions had emerged about the credibility of Jędrzejewski and his allegations after the failed hearing, but stressed that the seriousness of the claims required a thorough investigation.
"Every aspect of this case will be clarified," Tusk told reporters, adding that anyone responsible for wrongdoing, negligence or false accusations would face consequences.
He said he had instructed Justice Minister and Prosecutor-General Waldemar Żurek to personally supervise all proceedings involving the hospital and urged that the matter be resolved by prosecutors "rather than politicians or the media."
The allegations have been denied by Dawid Kacprzyk, the hospital's emergency department coordinator and a local politician affiliated until recently with Tusk's ruling Civic Coalition (KO) party.
In a statement issued through his lawyer, Kacprzyk described the accusations as false and defamatory and announced plans to pursue legal action.
He said the claims had damaged his reputation and insisted that continued silence could be interpreted as acceptance of false information.
The controversy intensified after an investigation published by the zero.pl outlet on June 15 alleged that Kacprzyk, a 29-year-old doctor without specialized training, earned around PLN 1.6 million (EUR 380,000, USD 440,000) last year, and raised questions about the treatment of certain political figures at the hospital.
Kacprzyk has denied wrongdoing.
The Warsaw District Prosecutor's Office said on Monday it had opened two separate investigations into alleged irregularities at Południowy Hospital. One concerns suspected fraud, while the other examines possible abuse of authority by a public official.
Żurek said prosecutors have recorded 12 reports involving deaths at Południowy Hospital since 2023. Three cases were dismissed without proceedings, four were closed, and five remain under investigation. Previously closed cases will also be reviewed, he said.
The health ministry has ordered inspections of emergency departments at both Południowy Hospital and Warsaw's Bródnowski Hospital.
The review will examine the conduct of medical personnel and treatment procedures, including cases involving patients who died while receiving emergency care between July 2025 and May 2026.
The Supreme Medical Council is also considering disciplinary action. Its head, Łukasz Jankowski, said preparations were underway for a request to suspend Kacprzyk's medical licence pending the outcome of the criminal investigations, citing patient safety concerns.
Amid the controversy, Kacprzyk resigned from the Civic Coalition party and stepped down from his seat on Warsaw's Ursus district council.
Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski has dismissed the hospital's management and supervisory boards, appointing a new chief executive.
Additional inspections are being carried out by Warsaw city authorities, the National Labour Inspectorate and the National Health Fund (NFZ), which finances Poland's public healthcare system.
The country's data protection authority has also announced a review focusing on the handling of personal data.
Trzaskowski has denied receiving information about irregularities at the city-owned hospital before the allegations became public.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP