Lena Samaras, the 34-year-old daughter of former Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras, suddenly died late Thursday after suffering two epileptic seizures and cardiac arrest.
The young woman passed away at Evangelismos Hospital in Athens.
She had reportedly suffered an epileptic seizure at noon on Thursday and was rushed to another hospital, Sismanogleio. There, doctors managed to bring her to consciousness, however, following the doctors’ recommendations, she was transferred to “Evangelismos” for further examinations. As health Minister Adonis Georgiadis posted on X, Sismanogleio hospital does not have a neurological clinic.
At Evangelismos, Lena Samaras suffered a second epileptic seizure and her health condition deteriorated rapidly. She suffered a cardiac arrest. Doctors tried to bring her back to life for 40 minutes, however, without success.
During the revival efforts, her parents Antonis and Georgia Samaras were in a room next door.
The whole political world expressed condolences to the family of the former prime minister.
However, the death of a young woman in a public hospital and the necessity to be transferred to a second hospital sparked an outrage on social media and sharp criticism against the Health Minister.
Many speak of the transfer between the two hospitals as “possible loss of precious time.” Others stress the ongoing downgrading of the public health care system blaming this for the death of the young woman.
Health Minister Georgiadis spoke first of all of “the well-known toxicity and malice of our political opponents [that] respect neither the death of a young person nor the tragedy experienced by the Samaras family.”
He then clarified that Lena Samaras “was transferred from one hospital to the other .”
According to news website news247.gr, Panagiotis Vlachogiannopoulos, professor of Pathology-Immunology at the National University of Athens and director of the clinic at Laiko public hospital stated that “this procedure is not foreseen.”
Commenting on the news leaked to the press, the professor stated that “the epilepsy incident, even if it is status epilepticus (i.e. continuous epilepsy) is treated by pathologists and anesthesiologists and stabilized first. The neurologist comes later or the incident is safely transferred for further neurological examination.”
PS Greeks are so frustrated from the public health care system and its downgrading in the last years that any speculation – even unfounded – on any wrongdoing automatically triggers a wave of outrage against the Health Minister who is responsible for the severe personnel shortages and the fleeing of thousands doctors abroad.
Such a young life ended so suddenly, may she rest in peace. My deep condolences are with the Samaras family.
Poor girl!
I don’t understand the outcry. The first doctors stabilised her seizure, then recommended further examination in a neurology clinic at the country’s top hospital. This is a correct procedure. The unexpected tragedy is that her heart stopped during a second seizure. How devastating for her family and friends!
No? All is just ‘fragments’ leaked to the press, no info about her previous health condition/issues etc. majority of internet users are no medical doctors, and the H.M. is often to blame for lots of thinhgs is public health system.
It wouldn’t have mattered anyway: the daughter and family were injected by the experimental mRNA bioweapon CovVax. It’s a 2013 five year Test Trial in which the Spike Proteins attack any of the 5 organs by attaching their Plastic Liquid coagulating in the veins, eventually causing Blood Clots, Nerve Damage and of course Death!
Georgiadis should not be health minister
I remember first time round when he held this position.
Greek Health Minister: “Cancer is not urgent unless in final stages” 😢
Condolences to the Samaras family.
Deepest sympathies to the Samaras family. Tragic loss for her family & friends.