A 27-year-old patient suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/MND), who is being treated at Venizeleio Hospital in Heraklion, Crete, was moved to another room so that the hospital could accommodate a favored patient, according to complaints.
As first reported by patris.gr, tensions flared at the hospital when the young woman was effectively forced to leave the private room where she had been receiving treatment and was transferred to an eight-bed ward. Following objections from healthcare workers, however, the patient was ultimately moved to another private room within the Internal Medicine Department.
The president of the Venizeleio Hospital Employees’ Association, Dimitris Flytzanis, confirmed the incident, describing it as “unacceptable” and calling on the hospital administration to provide an explanation.
“We are obligated to respect the equal treatment of patients based on their medical needs, not on personal connections or status. The hospital administration must explain why it removed a young woman from her room—a bedridden patient suffering from a very serious illness,” Flytzanis said.
Intervention by Evangelia Fanouraki
Evangelia Fanouraki, former administrator of the interconnected hospitals of the regional unit, also commented on the case, writing:
“Allow me to wonder about the following: if the operation was routine, why was it not performed in Ierapetra or at Agios Nikolaos Hospital? Especially in Agios Nikolaos, the average occupancy of the general surgery department is barely three patients. He would have had his own three-bed room, not just a private room. I certainly hope this does not indirectly imply any lack of confidence in the surgeons of Lasithi, does it?”
Statement From the Motor Neuron Disease Association
In response to recent reports concerning one of its members, the Association of People With Motor Neuron Disease highlighted the specific needs of individuals living with advanced ALS/MND during hospitalization.
The patient in question is 27 years old, lives with ALS, has both a tracheostomy and a gastrostomy, and is currently battling a serious infection. Her condition is described as extremely vulnerable and requires heightened attention and specialized care.
The association’s statement noted that healthcare professionals involved in her treatment recognized these needs and made efforts to ensure she was hospitalized under conditions that would provide greater safety, protection from infections, peace, and dignity.
