A bizarre case has emerged from the Faculty Hospital in Olomouc (FNOL) as Czech police have initiated a criminal investigation into allegations of severe bodily harm due to unnecessary or unwarranted implantation of defibrillators. This situation reportedly involves several hundred patients, prompting police spokesperson Libor Hejtman to outline the gravity of the case, although no one has been formally charged yet. The story first drew public attention in December through the Aktuálně.cz news outlet.

Last year, the Olomouc economic crime unit began examining these allegations, motivated by evidence revealing serious concerns regarding the systematic and long-term practice of carrying out non-indicated implantations of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) on numerous patients suffering from significant heart issues by staff at the 1st Internal Clinic – Cardiology. The investigation has identified the timeframe of these actions from 2015 until February 2025, indicating a troubling trend within the hospital's operations.

On Monday, police officially started criminal proceedings, labeling these actions as particularly serious crimes, emphasizing that severe bodily harm had been inflicted on patients through unwarranted medical procedures. The implications of this case are substantial, as it raises serious ethical and legal questions about medical practices in the hospital and could lead to consequences for both the healthcare providers involved and the patients affected, many of whom could have suffered preventable health complications.