Eighteen obstetricians and a department head at the Careggi Hospital have been accused of
abuse of office. All are currently under investigation for having taken payments in exchange for
better assistance to patients in the maternity ward. The department head is also currently under
investigation for assigning forpay rooms only to those patients who were willing to adhere to the
“special service” fee. According to sources, guaranteed service could cost anywhere from 500 to
800 euros. Upon paying the sum, mothers-to-be would be guaranteed assistance during delivery
from the obstetrician of their choice, regardless of established hospital shifts. This practice is
said to have been ongoing at Careggi for more than four years.
