New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis kicked out of the elections candidates ballots, medicine professor and former MP Spyros Pnevmatikos, on Friday noon after the outrage over the doctor’s controversial statements about “triage” on terminally ill cancer patients continued as strong as the day before – and despite Pneymatikos statement that his statement was “misinterpreted.”
In an interview with Skai FM on Thursday, professor for orthopedics surgeries Pneumatikos, spoke in favor of “triage” for terminally cancer patients citing “cost-benefit ratio.”
He said that “at some point, we need to draw a line for terminally ill cancer patients because coping with the required expenses becomes exceedingly difficult.”
Following the backlash, Pnevmatikos posted an apology on FB claiming that his comments had been misinterpreted. His statement came after intervention by a Mitsotakis’ close aide and ND high-ranking official.
According to media, expelling Pneumatikos from the election race was a one-way street, taking into consideration the political cost of such statements and the fact that the candidate for Evia was on the third position on the ballot that would certainly grant him the entrance in the Parliament.
Note that voting on June 25 is not with crosses next to preference’s candidate but with lists without cross.
Speaking at a pre-elections gathering on Friday, Mitsotakis announced that Spyros Pneumatikos is being excluded from the electoral race -not from the ballots, they have been already approved by the Supreme Court and cannot be changed now – and that he will resign and hand over the seat if elected.
“One thing I am not going to negotiate is the universal access of every citizen, regardless of what stage they are at, to the best treatment that the National Health Service can offer”, Mitsotakis said.
It was not the first time that Pneumatikos made similar statements mostly regarding the treatment cost for patients in public health system, clearly defending Mitsotakis program for private health.
PS Ultimately Pneumatikos fell victim of his own “cost-benefit ratio” logic even if for political reasons and for being a brainless politician who should not openly speak about practices citizens and patients should not know about.
Let them spill the beans so that we all know not to vote for them,show their true colors,their true future intentions for us all,and while he is at it let us all know who else has those views and intentions before we all go to vote very soon.