A surgeon has been sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for the death of 14-year-old Gogo, from Epanomi near Thessaloniki, who died following surgery to fit a gastric band in June 2021.

The verdict was delivered by the Mixed Jury Court of Giannitsa following a trial lasting several months. The court found the defendant guilty of the felony of endangering life, as well as the misdemeanour of forgery, while acquitting him of the charge of document theft.

According to the indictment, the forgery charge concerned the minor’s signature prior to the operation, while the document theft charge related to footage from the operating room, which the girl’s parents had requested as part of the criminal investigation.

No mitigating circumstances recognised

The judges did not recognise any mitigating circumstances for the convicted man. They ruled that his appeal would have suspensive effect, provided he posts a bond of 10,000 euros and on condition that he refrains from performing any medical procedures until the case is heard on appeal. He was also given a supplementary penalty of a one-year ban on practising medicine.

In his defence, the doctor denied any criminal liability, arguing that he had acted in accordance with the rules of medical science and citing his experience with similar procedures.

Evidence presented in court showed that he had previously received final convictions in two other cases involving patient deaths, also linked to gastric banding procedures, for which he was given a three-year suspended prison sentence.

These previous convictions were also taken into account by the Thessaloniki Misdemeanours Court, which, in referring him for trial over the case of the 14-year-old, imposed several restrictive conditions, including a ban on his participating in surgical procedures until the trial concluded.

“Gogo’s family will not celebrate her birthday, but the court ruling vindicates her memory”

In a statement to protothema.gr, the family’s lawyer, Ms Kiki Pakirtzidou, said: “The accused doctor, who has previously been the subject of legal proceedings, was found guilty of the felonies of causing death by negligence and forgery, and was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison.

This ruling is of particular legal and social significance, as the court granted the appeal suspensive effect under certain conditions, one of which is that he may not perform surgical procedures. On the 14th of the month, once again, Gogo’s family will not be celebrating her birthday, but they have a ruling in her favour to honour her memory.”