Doctors arrested in Romanian plastic surgery probe

Police said doctors demanded between 450 and 3,000 euros (£370 to £2,500) from patients, fabricated medical files and claimed money from state health insurance for cases (Getty)

Three doctors at a state hospital in the Romanian capital of Bucharest have been arrested on suspicion they offered patients cheap plastic surgery and pocketed the money themselves.

Police arrested Vitalie Stan, the manager of the state Burns Hospital, and two others Sunday and charged them with bribery and fraud. They said doctors demanded between 450 and 3,000 euros (£370 to £2,500) from patients, fabricated medical files and claimed money from state health insurance for cases. Prosecutors found 500,000 euros (£412,000) in cash during house searches last week.

A further sixteen doctors from the hospital, a nurse from a private clinic and 9 patients are also being investigated.

Lawyers said they would appeal against their arrests Monday.

A new interim manager at the hospital has been appointed.

AP