Heart surgeon Viliam Fischer (source: Sme)
The Specialised Criminal Court in Pezinok decided to replace the practice ban for Fischer with a suspended two-year ban on January 18. “The reason why I asked the court to drop the rest of the punishment is that I would like to carry out consultation services – surgical activities are likely out of the question – if there is interest, because my experience is significant,” Fischer, the man who accomplished the first successful heart transplant surgery in Slovakia, in March 1998, told the TASR newswire.
In April 2015, the Specialised Criminal Court gave Fischer a suspended two-year punishment with four years probation, a fine of €15,000 and banned him from practicing for three years. The court also consented to confiscating a portion of Fischer’s €800 bribe. Under the existing legislation, Fischer was entitled to ask for the rest of his punishment to be dropped, as he had already served the first half of the sentence.
The court found that Fischer leads an honest life, has a clean criminal record and has already reimbursed the fine of €15,000, and therefore accommodated his request.
Police pressed charges against Viliam Fischer for bribes totalling €3,000, two ducks and a box of chocolates from a family to move one of its members up the surgery waiting list. After the patient underwent the surgery but died in its aftermath, the bereaved family turned to the police.
