Hungarian orthopedist sentenced to prison for demanding ‘tips’ from patients

An orthopedist has been sentenced to two years in prison for making patients pay for otherwise free procedures in the national health system, Budapest’s chief prosecutor told MTI on Monday.

Tibor Ibolya said that the defendant had worked in a hospital in Budapest, and, often dissatisfied with the “tips” offered by patients, used to demand a higher amount.

The doctor would also go into a bargain over the gratuities, or offer that the patient could pay in instalments.

The court found him guilty of accepting a bribe from patients on nine occasions, handed him a two-year prison term and banned him from practising his profession for three years, the prosecutor said.

Both the prosecutor and the defendant have appealed against the ruling.

Source: MTI