With the testimony of the intensivist which was ordered immediately after Georgina was transferred to the University Hospital of Patras in April 2021 following the setback she suffered in Karamandanio, continued the trial of Roula Pispirigou.

ICU doctor Efstratia Sahinidou described all stages of the child’s hospitalization from the moment he arrived by ambulance at the ICU in Rio until his discharge in July 2021 and after he had been transferred to Onassios and returned to the University of Patras. He also described the days before January 29, 2022 – when Georgina, according to the case file, was murdered by her mother at the Children’s Hospital in Athens – when the child had been transferred back to Rio.

The process has evolved even today with tensions while the defendant’s side announced three lawsuits for perjury with two directed against the intensivist and the third against a nurse in Rio who testified on Friday.

The defense of Roula Pispirigou stated that they will also sue the previous witness, a nurse at the Rio Hospital, Georgia Papanikou for perjury because “she hid that she is first cousin and friend of Manos Daskalakis”.

Ms Sahinidou told the court that the first assessment of Georgina’s heart was good when the little girl was taken after the attack to the ICU where she remained intubated for twelve days. She also testified that the child had worsening hypertonia and spasticity after extubation and did not appear to respond to stimuli.

The doctor was asked by Edras about the therapeutic hypothermia that the child was subjected to when he arrived from Karamandanio in Rio and she answered that it is the internationally recommended method of stopping to reduce organ damage and protect the brain from swelling.

Chairman: You said we had an encephalopathic child. What does this mean;

Witness: It is a brain that has been damaged after a period of hypoxemia.

Chairman: And you say “we made sure” after extubation. What do you mean;

Witness: When someone is upset we don’t see how they react. Is he making normal movements? Is it on the decline? In length; We cannot know these things before extubation.

To the president’s question about the reactions of Georgina’s parents the witness testified: “They were typical in the visits. Father was emotional, she was crying, caressing the child, h mother was cold and detached. The mother was more distant, had a colder attitude than the father. Father was asking more things. Mother listened attentively to what we said, but her questions were far fewer than father’s.”

As the doctor said, in order to establish the causes of the arrest suffered by Georgina in Karamandanio, it was decided to do a genetic test, and then it was decided to install a defibrillator-pacemaker in Onassios.

In question about ketamine, the intensivist said: “It’s a drug we use in the Unit when they want us to achieve optimal sedation. Ketamine is always given in combination with other drugs for a short time. It is rapidly metabolised. Its dosage is around 1 to 2 mlgr. It has side effects such as mydriasis, convulsions, tachycardia, etc.”

He also referred to Georgina’s next admission, in January 2022, to the ICU of the University of Patras.

“On 01/17/22, before the child was admitted to the hospital, a brain MRI was performed. Two days later we were informed that the child is vomiting. On January 21, 2022, we had the first admission to the ICU, it caused desaturation and bradycardia. During the first hospitalization, the child was placed on an EEG and remained stable. The following 01/22, the same episode is reported. I was called to see her. The child was on oxygen. He had a fast heart rate and because of the whole situation I brought it up. He soon came out, weaned off the oxygen. They were constantly on monitors to record. It stayed 22 hours and showed no problem. Her third admission was on January 26. The next day it was decided that he should leave and go to Athens so that specific tests can be done to see where he comes from” said the witness about the days before Georgina succumbed to her mother’s criminal act, according to the case file.

Being examined by Mr. Kougia, the witness received many questions about the opposition but also about the process that took place in Karamandanio for the revitalization, issues that raised the tone.

Al. Kouyas: What percentage of children die after being stopped? It is common;

Witness: I have seen children lose their lives from obstruction.

Al. Kouyas: Did you find out if this child had any episodes prior to the interruption? Do you know how many days he stayed in Karamandanio?

Witness: I know what is written in the information.

Al. Kouyas: Based on what I read from Karamandanios’ information note, did this child have a good clinical picture?

Witness: I can’t rate. She came to the intensive care unit after a seizure. The document is attached.

The advocate asked why CPR was continued beyond 30 minutes. “Why are you doing it, what do you want? Science says you should let it go. Because he’s not a child anymore, he can’t move his arms and legs.” as he mentioned.

Al. Kugias: In which book is it mentioned that you continue even after 30 minutes…

Witness: The instructions of the 21st Century English and the instructions from the American company these are.

Al. Kouyas: The lady defendant files a new lawsuit against the witness for perjury. There is no book, no manual that says this. They have not been told at any conference.

Witness: I told you, it’s the new UK and American Society of Critical Care data. These are not announced in the books, these instructions are seen by all intensivists. However, whether CPR will continue from then on is also subjective… In my trial course, I have not stopped resuscitation at 30 minutes, especially in-hospital. If it’s a child you don’t stop! Don’t ask for times! Don’t ask! When I was in the ER I started from the ambulance to the hospital. I happened to take a child from Andravida and bring it to Karamandanio! What does how much mean?

Al. Kouyas: You and Mr. Iliadis why do you continue and want children plants? Are you keeping it because you want to do transplants….

Witness: …

Al. Kouyas: You don’t stop at your own unit! Only!

Chairman: Do you have evidence, Mr. Advocate?

Al. Kouyas: We have something and we are not fools! Tell me a case of a child who was resuscitated without severe brain damage. Why do you do it? Why are you violating medical ethics? While science says 10 and 20 minutes, why do you do it? And you deliver a child in this condition who cannot see, speak, move, understand? In Rio you do these things, which coincidentally in Rio there are also transplants…

Chairman: He has answered

At his request, Mr. Kougias asked the court to allow Georgina’s preserved blood to be handed over to the defendant in order to be examined toxicologically by a professor-witness with expert knowledge. He also requested the summons of the pediatrician who attended the children of the Daskalakis family.