Clinic where Mazonakis was treated before death not licensed for procedure, medical bodies say

World GreecehealthmusicTop News Clinic where Mazonakis was treated before death not licensed for procedure, medical bodies say Mazonakis 1 1024x683 Relevant News Clinic where Mazonakis was treated before death not licensed for procedure, medical bodies say 10 September 2026 At least 20 killed in cargo vessel fire at China shipyard, state media reports 10 September 2026 Europe seeks greater strategic independence from China 10 September 2026 newsroom 10 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The clinic where Giorgos Mazonakis received treatment shortly before his death was not licensed to carry out the procedure involved, according to the heads of Greece’s two leading medical associations. Mazonakis, 54, died on Wednesday afternoon after suffering a cardiac arrest, a death that shocked Greece. According to information available so far, he was at a private clinic in Kolonaki for a scheduled plasmapheresis treatment when an EKAB ambulance was called. Elpis Hospital said he was brought in at 16:45 with no spontaneous breathing and no pulse. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation followed but was unsuccessful, with his official time of death recorded at 17:40. The clinic’s doctor, Ioanna Gaka, described his final hours to police in a statement. She said that on the Tuesday, Mazonakis underwent an initial check that found his condition “quite burdened,” and that he struggled even to speak during their conversation. She said he asked her what could be done quickly, since he had an event scheduled in the coming days and wanted to improve his health fast. She said she suggested a blood-cleansing procedure using a specialised machine, telling him it carried no side effects or contraindications, and that he agreed to proceed. According to her statement, Mazonakis returned to the Kolonaki clinic the next day, Wednesday. She said she found him sleepless, and again noticed problems with his speech, saying at the time that he “wasn’t speaking correctly.” She told police she placed a venous catheter in his right arm, then attempted a second in his left, which she said the procedure required. She said his vital signs, including blood pressure, oxygen and temperature, remained normal until she was completing the second catheter, when she said she saw a sudden deterioration, with his blood pressure and oxygen levels dropping. She said the procedure was stopped immediately, and that she called her husband, with whom she began CPR while EKAB was notified; she said resuscitation continued until paramedics arrived. In her statement, Gaka said Mazonakis was alive when he left the Kolonaki clinic, and said the clinic’s equipment was all certified, adding that she would provide the relevant certificates. Her husband, who owns the clinic, has denied any involvement in the incident, saying, according to information cited in reports, that his wife had full management of the practice and carried out the treatments herself. Despite Gaka’s claims about the clinic’s certified equipment, Athens Medical Association president Giorgos Patoulis and Panhellenic Medical Association president Matina Pagoni said the clinic held a licence for a general practice that does not cover treatments such as plasmapheresis, and that a licensing inspection in 2025 found no such equipment on site. Plasmapheresis is a medical procedure that separates and removes plasma from the blood to treat conditions by filtering out harmful substances such as antibodies, toxins or proteins. It is an established technique used for decades, considered safe when carried out by trained professionals, and is used to treat conditions including allergies, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal problems, and alcohol and drug dependency, often alongside other treatments. During the procedure, blood is drawn and plasma is separated from blood cells using a specialised machine; the remaining blood cells are mixed with a replacement fluid, such as saline or albumin, and returned to the patient. It is typically recommended after a review of a patient’s symptoms and medical history, particularly when other treatments have not worked or a fast response is needed. Read more: Giorgos Mazonakis: A life lived at the extremes Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News At least 20 killed in cargo vessel fire at China shipyard, state media reports Europe seeks greater strategic independence from China EU proposes major overhaul of public procurement rules New Cyprus scheme lets families build extra homes up to 180 square metres Overnight pharmacies on Thursday, September 10 Education Ministry dismisses Cyprus textbook shortage claims as “exaggerated” E-scooter injuries surge in Cyprus despite thousands of complaints Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.