Patra: Four-month-old baby suffering from malnutrition and suspected rat bites

A four-month-old infant was admitted to Karamanandaneio Children’s Hospital in Patras in extremely serious condition, suffering from malnutrition and bruising.

According to reports, doctors deemed it necessary to transfer the baby to the Paediatric Unit at Rio Hospital, headed by Mr Iliadis and Mr Alexopoulos. Both doctors have extensive experience in child abuse cases and participated in a Ministry of Justice committee tasked with developing protocols for handling cases involving abused children. However, these protocols have yet to be implemented.

According to sources familiar with the case, the newly appointed forensic pathologist in Patras was called to the hospital and ordered a dermatological examination to determine the cause of the bruising on the infant’s lower limbs. The doctors who treated the baby were also summoned to give statements.

According to Michalis Giannakos, the infant is now out of immediate danger and is expected to be transferred back to Karamanandaneio Children’s Hospital soon.

However, the president of the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees (POEDIN) expressed concern about what will happen next, warning that a shortage of appropriate social care facilities could mean the baby remains in hospital for social rather than medical reasons.

In light of the incident, Giannakos called for meaningful intervention by social services in Roma settlements to monitor the living conditions of young children and identify potential cases of neglect or abuse at an early stage.