Criminal liability to be sought for the KCUS handover commission

The commission of the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, which is inventorying the private belongings of the former head of the Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology, Dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović, could face criminal liability for these actions.

Dr. Gavrankapetanović's lawyer, Senad Pećanin, told the Patria agency that the Commission is acting illegally in two ways: it is illegally inventorying Professor Gavrankapetanović's private belongings and it is operating with an incomplete composition.

The KCUS commission conducting the inventory in the office of the former head of this clinic consists of the Commission President, Dr. Amir Zjakić, and members Dr. Edin Kulenović, KCUS lawyer Belma Jamakosmanović, economist Edin Šoljić, and nurse Almedina Alihodžić.

The Management Board and the General Director of KCUS, Dr. Sebija Izetbegović, abruptly dismissed the leading European orthopedist, Dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović, from the position of head of the Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology. The dismissal was sudden and without explanation, which caused sharp reactions from orthopedists and organizations from across Europe, as well as from the public. There is talk of a political dismissal of the respected orthopedist, which has damaged Bosnia and Herzegovina's reputation throughout Europe.

Doctors who attempted to defend Dr. Gavrankapetanović are also allegedly under pressure.

Hundreds of Sarajevo citizens gave their signatures over the weekend as a sign of support for the doctors at KCUS, but this did not change the management's opinion.

Lawyer Pećanin explains that the Commission had previously inventoried all items in Dr. Gavrankapetanović's office, but that the inventory continued afterwards, including the private belongings of Professor Gavrankapetanović, as well as his years of private and professional correspondence with colleagues worldwide, which lawyer Pećanin described as "shameless violence that seriously jeopardizes the fundamental functions of the Orthopedics Clinic and the entire Clinical Center."

Dr. Gavrankapetanović previously stated that he does not wish to return to the head position, but he wants expertise, not politics, to make decisions at the largest healthcare institution in BiH, as is currently the practice.

At least 40 doctors, including a large number of specialists, have left KCUS since Dr. Sebija Izetbegović, wife of SDA President and BiH Presidency member Bakir Izetbegović, was appointed General Director of this healthcare institution.

A large number of BiH intellectuals publicly demanded the dismissal of Dr. Izetbegović and the entire leadership of KCUS last week, due to the dire situation they have brought this healthcare institution into.