The two doctors who run a Stem Cell clinic in Athens have been released after giving statements to police, while prosecutors await forensic findings into the death of Greek singer Giorgos Mazonakis.

Internal medicine specialist Ilias Theodoropoulos and his wife, also a doctor, left Kypseli Police Station shortly before midnight after being questioned as part of the preliminary investigation.

Their lawyer, Nikos Agapinos, said the couple were released temporarily while authorities continue collecting evidence, including staff statements and an inspection of the clinic. He stressed that the forensic examination will be crucial in determining whether Mazonakis’s death was connected to the medical procedure.

Mazonakis Suffered Cardiac Arrest at Clinic

Mazonakis had visited the Stem Cell facility in Athens’ Kolonaki district on September 9 for a scheduled plasmapheresis treatment. According to clinic staff, he developed severe chest pain after an intravenous cannula was inserted and subsequently suffered a cardiac arrest.

Medical staff began emergency resuscitation, followed by paramedics from Greece’s National Centre for Emergency Care (EKAV) and doctors at Elpis Hospital. Despite their efforts, Mazonakis could not be revived.

Authorities are now examining both the circumstances of his death and whether the procedure was performed within the required legal framework.

Questions Over Clinic Licence

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis has raised questions about the clinic’s licence, saying initial information indicated that the facility was licensed as a general pathology practice rather than a facility authorised to perform plasmapheresis.

Georgiadis said the president of the Athens Medical Association (ISA) had ordered an immediate inspection to determine whether the procedure was legally permitted at the premises.

ISA President Giorgos Patoulis said the organisation has an institutional responsibility to ensure that medical procedures are carried out in properly licensed and legally compliant settings. He confirmed that an emergency inspection had begun.

Doctors Deny Connection to Death

The clinic owner’s lawyer has maintained that there was no connection between the procedure and Mazonakis’s death. He said the clinic had legally registered equipment and argued that any potential criminal or civil liability would depend on the findings of the investigation and forensic examination.

Authorities are expected to question people who had contact with Mazonakis before, during and after his visit to the clinic. Medical records and details of the treatment will also form part of the investigation.

What Is Plasmapheresis?

Plasmapheresis, also known as therapeutic plasma exchange, is an established medical procedure used for certain haematological, neurological, kidney-related and autoimmune conditions.

During the procedure, a patient’s blood is passed through specialised equipment that separates plasma from blood cells. The plasma is removed and replaced with a suitable fluid, while the blood cells are returned to the body.

The procedure requires specialised equipment, appropriate vascular access, continuous monitoring and trained medical personnel. Potential complications can include low blood pressure, changes in calcium levels, allergic reactions and problems associated with vascular access.

Doctors from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have explained that the procedure is primarily used to remove harmful substances circulating in the blood, including certain antibodies, immune complexes and abnormal proteins, while replacement fluids can restore necessary components.

The investigation into Mazonakis’s death remains ongoing, with forensic findings expected to help determine the exact circumstances and whether any medical or legal responsibility was involved.