Chief physician at Rigshospitalet: 'It is a problem if we cannot speak out about patient safety'

It is concerning if doctors and nurses cannot speak out about patient safety without being fired.

That is what transplant chief physician Poul Krohn says, after three of his colleagues at Rigshospitalet's Department of Transplantation and Digestive Diseases were fired this week.

"One might fear that it was because they were too critical, and that is a problem if we as doctors cannot speak out about patient safety," he says.

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Fear for patient safety

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In a new letter of concern to management, 27 operating room nurses from Rigshospitalet write that they are "worried about what patients will wake up to" after the firings.

Read also: Nurses raise alarm after firing of surgeons at Rigshospitalet: 'We are deeply concerned for the patients' ( https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/sygeplejersker-slaar-alarm-efter-fyring-af-kirurger-paa-rigshospitalet-vi-er-dybt-bekymrede )

The surgeons were employed in a highly specialized department that, as the only one in the country, performs, among other things, liver transplants.

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Denmark's only center for liver transplants

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The Department of Transplantation and Digestive Diseases at Rigshospitalet is the only place in Denmark that performs liver transplants.

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56 Danes received a liver transplant in 2025

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23 Danes were on the waiting list for a new liver in 2025

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Two Danes died in 2025 while on the waiting list for a new liver

Source: Danish Center for Organ Donation

After two surgeons had left the department over the course of the year, those remaining were concerned about whether there were enough surgeons in the department capable of performing the highly specialized operations.

Therefore, at the end of September, they wrote a letter of concern in which they sharply criticized the management style and work environment.

According to Poul Krohn, the employees had tried to enter into a dialogue with the department's management about the problems, but "they did not listen."

After the letter in September, the surgeons were called in for an official meeting, after which three were suspended and subsequently fired ( https://ugeskriftet.dk/nyhed/overlaegeforeningen-efter-tre-fratraedelser-det-er-afgoerende-laeger-trygt-kan-rejse-faglige ).

The department treats the most advanced forms of pancreatic cancer and performs liver transplants, including pediatric transplants, but Poul Krohn now fears that Rigshospitalet lacks the right competencies to handle these tasks.

"They are the most skilled surgeons in Denmark and the only surgeons in Denmark who can operate on the advanced form of pancreatic cancer. There is no one else in Denmark who can do what they can."

Rigshospitalet has not been able to arrange an interview with DR following Poul Krohn's statements.

Earlier today, Vice Director Jannick Brennum told DR that patient safety is the most important focus.

"We stand by our treatment of patients – also in the current situation. We are working to hire new specialists and have strengthened collaboration with our colleagues in Denmark and the Nordic countries."

According to Jannik Brennum, Rigshospitalet's management is willing to enter into dialogue with the critical nurses and doctors and has invited them to a meeting.

"No one should feel that their employment is at risk because they speak out or express their concern."

But even though Rigshospitalet stands by patient safety, it does not dampen Poul Krohn's concern.

"I will continue to fear that this is the case. Either they won't be operated on, or they will be operated on by someone who does not have the competence to do it," he says.

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