The stories from Greece, still struggling from the economic crisis of 2008, beggar belief. From medical travesties to riotous anti-immigrant violence, hope is hard to find
The story from an Athens hospital beggared belief. In May a 54 year old man needed immediate heart surgery. He was unemployed and uninsured, a common reality for many Greek citizens since the economic crisis hit in 2008. The hospital initially refused to admit him, fearing they would never get paid, but the man said he would submit the required welfare document when he received it. His doctor convinced the facility that the patient was in jeopardy and must be operated on immediately.
The man, whose name has not been released though the story has been verified by reliable sources was lying in the operating theatre waiting to have a pacemaker installed, when a person from the hospitals accounting department arrived. Because the patient hadn't submitted the necessary welfare documents, the accountant forced the doctors to stop the procedure.
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