Kaliningrad police spokesman Sergei Grachyev said, "The surgeon demanded a bribe from a woman whose mother underwent an operation at a hospital. The doctor said 5,000 rubles ($170) would be 'monetary gratitude' for his work and care for the patient," Interfax repoted.
The doctor forbade medical staff to care for the post-operative patient until he was "thanked." As a result, the patient's wounds began to fester, which in turn increased the potential for more serious medical consequences.
The patient's daughter contacted police, who arrested the doctor as he took the requested bribe. The investigation is ongoing, and no criminal charges have yet been brought in the case.
Requesting money from patients for certain procedures is common practice at state-funded clinics and hospitals, even though medical care is free for all citizens by law.
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