Two doctors have been charged with felony endangerment after Greek singer Giorgos Mazonakis died during a controversial anti-ageing procedure at an Athens medical clinic.
Mazonakis, 54, suffered cardiac arrest on Wednesday, September 9, while undergoing plasmapheresis at a private practice in the upscale Kolonaki district, according to authorities. A rapid-response unit reached the facility around 4:30 p.m. And a paramedic began CPR before an ambulance transported him to Elpis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:40 p.m.
Authorities filed charges on Friday, September 11, against both doctors present during the procedure. The felony count of endangerment resulting in death rests partly on evidence that the clinic’s medical office lacked licensing to perform plasmapheresis, according to reports. The facility was authorized only as a general medical practice, a distinction that bars it from conducting such specialized treatments.
Greece’s Health Minister, Adonis Georgiadis, addressed the case directly on X following Mazonakis’ passing. He wrote: “According to the initial information, Giorgos Mazonakis suffered cardiac arrest at what was supposedly a clinic, during a procedure that has been described as plasmapheresis.”
“The precise cause of his death will, of course, be determined through the forensic investigation, as will whether anyone bears responsibility and, if so, who. We must, however, investigate the exact circumstances of the incident,” Georgiadis continued on the platform.
He added: “In reality, the facility was licensed only as a general medical practice, and a medical procedure of this kind is not permitted to be performed in such a practice.”
Georgiadis noted that the Athens Medical Association had been contacted and had commenced its own investigation into the matter. He concluded his statement with a warning to the public: “In any event, I urge patients to be careful about what they read online and not to put their health at risk under questionable conditions.”
“I express my sincere condolences to his family and his thousands of friends,” the minister shared.
A forensic examination conducted Friday failed to establish a clear cause of death, according to an initial assessment by the forensic pathologist. A death certificate was nonetheless issued to allow funeral proceedings to move forward. Further toxicological and laboratory tests are expected to provide additional clarity on the circumstances surrounding Mazonakis’ death.
Plasmapheresis removes blood from the body, separates liquid plasma from blood cells, replaces the plasma, and returns the blood to the patient. The procedure is frequently marketed as an “age-reversal” treatment or “blood cleanse,” though side effects can include dangerous blood pressure drops, clotting problems, and infections. Medical professionals have cautioned against undergoing plasmapheresis outside specialized facilities, and the FDA has strongly warned against its use as an anti-ageing method due to insufficient rigorous human clinical trials.
Mazonakis had built a decades-long career as one of Greece’s most recognizable musical performers before his sudden death brought national scrutiny to the unregulated anti-ageing industry. The investigation into the Kolonaki clinic continues as toxicology results remain pending.