A surgeon from one of Lviv’s territorial medical associations is accused of demanding and receiving an unlawful benefit from a man liable for military service in return for fictitious inpatient treatment and exerting influence to extend his established disability status. Prosecutors from the Yavoriv District Prosecutor’s Office have referred the indictment to court.
According to the investigation, the doctor offered to help the man obtain medical documents and influence the decision of the medical commission regarding the extension of his Group III disability. To this end, he allegedly intended to arrange the issuing of medical discharge summaries confirming a period of inpatient treatment, although in reality the patient would only be in hospital “on paper”.
During a face-to-face meeting, the doctor assured the man liable for military service that he had sufficient connections in medical institutions across Lviv region and influence over members of the ECOPFO, and would therefore be able to resolve the matter in his favour. At the same time, he warned that if the payment was refused, the disability group would not be extended.
The surgeon estimated the approximate amount of this “help” at 9,000 US dollars. This sum was to cover the preparation of documents confirming inpatient treatment and exerting influence on the relevant commission. In June this year, after the transfer of the first instalment of the unlawful benefit in the amount of 1,000 US dollars, law enforcement officers detained the doctor under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.
The doctor is charged with offering to exert influence over the decision-making of a person authorised to perform state functions, as well as receiving an unlawful benefit for himself for exerting such influence, combined with extortion (Part 3 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). At present, the doctor has been suspended from his duties. The pre-trial investigation was conducted by the Yavoriv District Police Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Lviv region, with operational support from the Yavoriv District Office of the Security Service of Ukraine in Lviv region.
Pursuant to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and may not be subjected to criminal punishment until his or her guilt has been proven in the manner prescribed by law and established by a guilty verdict of a court.