The case of Southern Hospital in Warsaw continues to stir strong emotions. Confederation MP Krzysztof Mulawa has commented on the latest reports concerning the functioning of the hospital’s mortuary. The politician did not hide his outrage, calling the practices described “immoral in every respect”. Referring to the investigation into death certificates, he urged people “not to be naive”, suggesting that the case raises an increasing number of questions that need clarification.
The case of Southern Hospital in Warsaw took on a new dimension after further findings were published concerning the functioning of the hospital’s mortuary. The reports included allegations that graphic photographs of human remains had been posted on social media, that private training activities had been conducted on the premises of a public hospital, and that families claimed they had been encouraged, while completing formalities after the death of their loved ones, to use the services of a specific funeral home. At the same time, it has not been confirmed so far that the photographs published online showed bodies from the mortuary of Southern Hospital.
The portal reporting on the matter also stated that questions had been sent to the mortuary coordinator, Artur Habowski, concerning, among other things, the organisation of training sessions, the published photographs, and the rules governing the facility’s operation. The man refused to answer, saying that some of the issues concerned ongoing proceedings in which he has the status of an injured party. The hospital, meanwhile, said that due to the complexity of the matter, it was unable to respond to the questions within the given deadline.
Krzysztof Mulawa, a Confederation MP, addressed the issue on TV Republika. As he noted, “the coordinator of the hospital mortuary passes information about deceased people to a funeral home owned by his business partner. On top of that, he promotes the specific funeral home of his business partner. This is, in every respect, immoral.”
Mulawa: Let’s not be naive
Michał Rachoń, the station’s programming director, pointed out that “for several days we have had statements from the prosecutor’s office saying that an investigation is underway into the falsification of 20 death certificates at this hospital, in this mortuary. Today, from Patryk Słowik’s article, we learn that the injured party, the person whose stamp was stolen and whose signatures were forged, is precisely the man who promoted his business partner’s funeral company. What is going on here?”
“Why would someone falsify 20 death certificates in a hospital? Am I the only one thinking that perhaps this is Mr Artur trying to get ahead of the issue? If it had not been for today’s information about this mortuary, about the promotion of specific funeral homes, about filming videos for financial gain, I would say that yes, the person whose stamp was stolen is indeed an injured party. But if this is the same person, then logically certain questions simply come to my mind, and I ask whether this is not, by any chance, an attempt to get ahead of the matter… Perhaps Mr Artur reported it, but after some time, when the scandal involving Mr Kacprzyk, Mr Kierwiński, and Mr Trzaskowski at this hospital had begun, to clear himself in advance of possible allegations,”
Mulawa assessed.
He added: “We know that this story looked as follows, this is what media reports suggest, when the Registry Office contacted this very man and informed him that there was some formal discrepancy, that something needed to be completed, he was supposed to have said that he was on leave, that he had not done it, and that the stamp had gone missing, that his stamp was gone, and that someone had forged his signature. Let’s not be naive…”
He also recalled the case connected with the so-called “skin hunters”.
“This information was being released gradually, little by little, and new details kept emerging. It all kept growing. This story evolved from smaller, shocking pieces of information to the most shocking ones… If someone resorted to such horrific things, and I am not saying that this is the case here, but if, back then, someone resorted to such horrific things, it must have been very well organised,”
he stressed.
Mulawa was also asked what should happen in this case.
“Let’s say what the basis is. The basis is the hospital that was under Mr Trzaskowski’s authority. This is not just any hospital; it is simply a municipal hospital, a legally established one. These are very clear matters. If this is a municipal hospital, and a specific political group governs the city, then this specific group, looking at the subsequent developments in this scandal, first, there was the VIP room. That was a major issue, but moments later, another one appeared, namely PLN 1.6 million. An immoral matter: a young man who probably should not have been working there, and certainly not in that position, and absolutely should not have been earning that kind of money. After a while, it turned out that prominent Civic Coalition activists had used that VIP room. Then it turned out that this was not income of PLN 1.6 million, but outright theft, because this was confirmed by Dr Kacprzyk’s own actions, as he returned the money, that it was theft. Today we have the mortuary. A party that behaves responsibly, a party that said that for eight years things had been bad and that they were coming with a new quality in Polish politics, also in Warsaw, although Warsaw is locked down politically, but if they are coming with a new quality, then we understand that this quality should apply in all places for which they are responsible, wherever they govern. These people should therefore behave in line with their promise. But I ask myself the question, and unfortunately, I have to answer it: are these people devoid of morality? They will send out like Giertych, Arłukowicz or Dubois…,”
he said.