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Hospital death doctor convicted Hospital death doctor convicted
(40 minutes later)
A Greek doctor has been convicted of killing a British holidaymaker who died after being left on a hospital trolley.A Greek doctor has been convicted of killing a British holidaymaker who died after being left on a hospital trolley.
In 2000, Christopher Rochester, 24, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, fell 40ft (12m) from a Rhodes balcony.In 2000, Christopher Rochester, 24, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, fell 40ft (12m) from a Rhodes balcony.
Three doctors were found guilty of manslaughter by neglect two years later but were cleared on appeal in 2005.Three doctors were found guilty of manslaughter by neglect two years later but were cleared on appeal in 2005.
Junior doctor Stergios Pavlidis has now been sentenced to 15 months, suspended for three years, following a private prosecution by Mr Rochester's family.Junior doctor Stergios Pavlidis has now been sentenced to 15 months, suspended for three years, following a private prosecution by Mr Rochester's family.
The two other doctors, Georgos Karavolias and Mihalis Sokorelos, were acquitted.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS: 2000 Mr Rochester dies at Andreas Papandreou Hospital2002 Three doctors convicted of manslaughter2005 Manslaughter convictions overturned2006 Greece's High Court rules the acquittals unsafe2007 Mr Rochester's family win the right to privately prosecute 2008 Stergios Pavlidis re-convicted of manslaughterTIMELINE OF EVENTS: 2000 Mr Rochester dies at Andreas Papandreou Hospital2002 Three doctors convicted of manslaughter2005 Manslaughter convictions overturned2006 Greece's High Court rules the acquittals unsafe2007 Mr Rochester's family win the right to privately prosecute 2008 Stergios Pavlidis re-convicted of manslaughter
The two other doctors, Georgos Karavolias and Mihalis Sokorelos, were acquitted.
The tourist died of internal bleeding at the island's Andreas Papandreou Hospital when he was left unattended for three hours after his fall at the Faliraki apartments.The tourist died of internal bleeding at the island's Andreas Papandreou Hospital when he was left unattended for three hours after his fall at the Faliraki apartments.
After the three doctors were acquitted in 2005, the Greek Supreme Court ruled the appeal should be overturned and subsequently approved the private prosecution.After the three doctors were acquitted in 2005, the Greek Supreme Court ruled the appeal should be overturned and subsequently approved the private prosecution.
Mr Rochester's stepfather George Cummings and mother Pam Cummings raised almost £10,000 to pay for the prosecution, which was held before Rhodes magistrates. Mr Rochester's stepfather George Cummings and mother Pam Cummings raised almost £10,000 to pay for the case, which was held before Rhodes magistrates.
Pam Cummings, Mr Rochester's mother, said: "Chris's last few hours were spent in excruciating pain, knowing that nobody was helping him in his distress and telling his friend David he was dying." Only Pavlidis and Dr Karavolias were in court on Wednesday, as Mr Sokorelos claimed he was "too stressed" to attend the hearing.
Only Mr Pavlidis and Mr Karavolias were in court, as Mr Sokorelos claimed he was "too stressed" to attend the hearing. Pam and George Cummings raised almost £10,000 to pay for the case
When the holidaymaker's body was returned to the UK, a post-mortem examination found one of his kidneys was missing. Speaking after the conviction, Mrs Cummings said she was happy with the outcome, because she had been convinced that all the doctors would be found not guilty.
An organ was later sent to the family, but tests failed to produce a DNA match. A separate investigation into the kidney mix-up is continuing. But she criticised Dr Karavolias and said that if he had been in the A&E department then Christopher would have lived.
An inquest in Britain recorded a verdict of accidental death contributed to by neglect. The court heard evidence that the surgeon was in a hospital rest room and had left instructions that he should be called in an emergency. He maintained that no one had contacted him.
Mrs Cummings said: "If he had been in A&E, a trained specialist doctor, he would have been there to take over from Pavlidis, the junior doctor.
"If Karavolias had been (there) Chris would have lived, I am sure of it."
The family's lawyer Sotirios Manolaidis explained that it was unlikely that the Pavlidis would be barred from practising again.
But the court's latest verdict is unlikely to be overturned because the decision was unanimous, he added.