Greek prosecutors have upgraded the charges against two doctors under investigation over the death of beloved singer Giorgos Mazonakis, who was laid to rest in Athens on Monday.
The 54-year-old singer died last Wednesday after suffering cardiac arrest while undergoing plasmapheresis at a private medical clinic in central Athens.
Plasmapheresis is a medical procedure in which blood plasma is removed, filtered and returned to the patient. According to reports cited in the case, the clinic promoted longevity and anti-ageing treatments but was not licensed to perform the procedure, which is required to be carried out in appropriately equipped hospital facilities.
The two doctors were initially charged with exposing a patient to danger resulting in death.
On Monday, prosecutors upgraded the allegations to homicide with possible malice aforethought, a significantly more serious charge.
The revised charge alleges that the doctors may have been aware that their actions could have fatal consequences but proceeded regardless. The change also opens the way for prosecutors to seek pre-trial detention.
Haralambos Lykoudis, the lawyer representing Mazonakis’ relatives, had earlier requested that the original charges be upgraded.
The development came as thousands of mourners gathered in Nikaia to say their final farewell to the singer, whose death has shocked Greece and prompted wider questions about oversight of private medical facilities and procedures.
Among those attending the funeral were Athens Mayor Haris Doukas, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni and Zoe Konstantopoulou, leader of the Course of Freedom party.
Georgiadis said he had apologised to Mazonakis’ family, telling reporters that “the system was unable to protect” the singer.
He said authorities needed to identify loopholes that could be exploited by people offering misleading or potentially unsafe medical services.
The health minister also said he wanted closer cooperation with Greece’s medical associations to protect citizens from misleading advertising.
Under Greek legislation, Georgiadis said, oversight of private medical clinics falls largely under local medical associations.
He argued that it would not be possible for the state to directly inspect every private medical facility in the country, referring to approximately 20,000 clinics.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mazonakis’ death remains ongoing, with authorities examining the medical procedure, the clinic’s licensing status and the actions of those involved in his treatment.
