Surgeon from Craiova Definitively Convicted for Patient's Death During Surgery

The Craiova Court of Appeal has handed down a final conviction against a surgical doctor, sentencing him to two years and six months of imprisonment, suspended, for manslaughter. The case concerns the death of a patient following an operation carried out at the Craiova County Clinical Emergency Hospital.

In addition to the criminal sentence, the court has banned the doctor from practising as a thoracic surgeon for a period of four years, in both the public and private sectors.

The judges rejected the appeals lodged by the doctor and the hospital, in which they challenged the sentence originally handed down by Craiova District Court on 5 February 2026. However, the court upheld the requests made by the victim's family and significantly increased the compensation amounts awarded.

As a result, the deceased patient's wife will receive 50,000 euros in moral damages, compared to the 15,000 euros initially established. Each of the victim's five children will receive 20,000 euros, double the 10,000 euros previously set. In total, the family will receive 150,000 euros, which the doctor and the hospital must pay jointly and severally, in RON, at the exchange rate applicable on the day of payment.

According to the reasoning set out by Craiova District Court, the convicted doctor is named Demetrian Alin Dragoş. During the three-year supervision period, he must report periodically to the Dolj Probation Service, receive visits from his probation officer, and notify the relevant authorities of any change of address or place of employment. He has also been ordered to perform 100 days of unpaid community service at the "Alexandru şi Aristia Aman" County Library or at the Colibri Children's and Youth Theatre in Craiova.

According to the investigation, the surgical procedure that led to the patient's death took place in September 2019. During the operation, the doctor severed the patient's right brachiocephalic trunk, causing massive haemorrhage. The patient subsequently died as a result of this complication.