The victory of Tomasz Sakiewicz in the case brought against him by Tomasz Grodzki (a not-guilty verdict was issued) is fundamentally tied to several contexts – among them the matter of freedom of speech, responsibility (or rather, unfortunately, the lack thereof) for acts of bribery, as well as the condition of the healthcare system and the way citizens are treated within it.
Unfortunately, we have known for years that the situation in this field in Poland is bad, but what has been happening under Donald Tusk’s government is nothing short of a tragedy. Even patients requiring urgent treatment are given appointments months away, and pregnant women are expected to give birth… in emergency rooms. This is a civilizational breakdown.
I dare say that this issue is actually key to the trial and Sakiewicz’s acquittal – because what returns to the public sphere, this time not only in court but in the media, is not just the question of medical integrity, but also the broader matter of how the state treats its citizens. And in this respect, Donald Tusk’s government holds the citizen in utter contempt. At this point, it is no longer even about comfort or quality of life, but about fundamental matters: safety, health, life itself. Securing treatment through bribes amounts to a struggle for one’s life and health: if such a practice exists in a country, it means the state itself is sick, and that the state itself needs treatment.
Attention should also be drawn to a crucial fact: it is not Tomasz Grodzki who is facing a case brought by law enforcement concerning bribery; instead, it is a journalist who was sued for having the courage to write about the matter openly. So, although this victory and acquittal are welcome, it must still be stressed – we are dealing with the “acquittal” of the person who reports and speaks about bribery, which carries a bitter undertone: justice has still not fully prevailed, because the trial that should be taking place before our eyes is not happening.
We live in a country where human freedom and dignity have always come first. If someone oppressed Poles and denied them civil liberties, if someone threatened their lives and health, that was an invader or occupier – not a government elected in a democratic process. Yet now Poles are being harassed, and their freedom, lives, and health are being disrespected by a government chosen in such elections. All of this is deeply sad.