The “Odrex affair” has resonated significantly with the public, prompting journalists to disseminate accounts from the Telegram channel StopOdrex. Within this platform, past patients and relatives of individuals who passed away following medical interventions anonymously recount their ordeals. These narratives encompass premature releases in precarious health, the discovery of extraneous items within the body post-surgery, and purported substandard care, as alleged by the families.
When opting for a private medical establishment, individuals anticipate superior service standards, cutting-edge technology, and individualized attention from medical practitioners. Nevertheless, for the protagonists of this piece, their engagement with the Odrex clinic in Odessa initiated a distinctly contrasting narrative: a battle to safeguard their well-being or to ascertain the truth surrounding the demise of their beloved relatives, UNN reports.
In light of the substantial attention garnered by the “Odrex Affair,” these confidential testimonies have piqued the interest of Ukrainian media outlets. Specifically, within the StopOdrex Telegram channel, former patrons of the clinic and the bereaved families of those who succumbed to illness after treatment there are anonymously sharing narratives that would undoubtedly be excluded from the institution’s promotional materials. These consist of unattributed accounts concerning discharges occurring while patients were in critical conditions, the persistence of foreign objects within patients’ bodies following surgical procedures, as well as assurances of recovery through costly medications, which, according to familial sources, yielded no tangible benefits.
“The gauze was simply driven further inward; my survival was solely attributable to antibiotics”
The initial narrative presented on the StopOdrex Telegram channel unfolds like a medical suspense tale, encapsulating some of humanity’s most profound apprehensions related to undergoing surgery.
As per the woman’s account, she underwent a surgical intervention at Odrex to excise her Bartholin’s gland. Following this procedure, a drainage system comprising a gauze bandage was implemented, which, according to her, necessitated daily replacements. The patient emphasizes her adherence to regular visits to Odrex for irrigation and her compliance with all physician directives.
Progressively, her condition worsened, accompanied by the onset of suppuration and discomfort at the operative site. Despite alerting the clinic’s medical personnel to her concerns that “something was amiss,” she was subjected to supplementary diagnostic evaluations, including ultrasonography, laboratory analyses, and various other procedures, yet the etiology of the suppuration remained elusive within Odrex. Consequently, the woman sought medical attention at an alternative healthcare facility.
The truth was revealed to me solely at another medical center. Another physician discerned that the bandage from the drainage apparatus had been left in situ and had been propelled further inward. Within the alternative hospital, it was effortlessly irrigated utilizing hydrogen peroxide. Throughout this duration, I was administered potent antibiotics, which, in effect, salvaged my existence. I retain an audio recording of the exchange with the Odrex gynecologist, serving as a perpetual reminder of my experience.
– writes an anonymous woman.
“Discharged post-stroke sans further treatment”
Another narrative disseminated by journalists centers on the ordeal of the offspring of a patient admitted to Odrex in August 2025 following a stroke under the NHSU framework. According to the man’s anonymous declaration, his mother, a retiree grappling with diabetes, and acknowledging the inherent risks, the family promptly affirmed their readiness to defray the expenses for all requisite procedures, despite her enrollment under the NHSU program. Nonetheless, merely three days subsequent to admission, the woman was discharged. The son contends that at the time of discharge, his mother exhibited minimal verbal communication, experienced cognitive deficits, and remained considerably debilitated.
Upon returning home, her condition precipitously declined, manifesting as vomiting, pyrexia, and overall deterioration. Despite two calls to emergency medical services, we were met with the response: “Given her recent discharge from Odrex, all indications suggest she is well.”
– notes the patient's son.
It was only upon admission to another medical institution that the woman received a diagnosis of a subsequent stroke, as per the family’s assertion.
The physicians explicitly conveyed that Odrex had acted improperly in releasing her prematurely. The resulting temporal delay rendered the sequelae irreversible. My mother presently experiences significant speech impairment and severe memory impairment. The outcome of her Odrex treatment is a first-degree disability. Despite my attempts to reach out to the Odrex physician, through calls and written correspondence, seeking guidance amidst my mother’s distress, I encountered complete indifference.
– the man complains.
“Treated to death”
The third account concerns rehabilitation in the aftermath of a stroke in 2024. The patient’s relatives indicate within their confidential communication that the man was a clinic resident from late September through late November 2024. During this period, the family reportedly incurred expenses exceeding $10,000.
Simultaneously, the patient was purportedly prescribed an extensive regimen of antibiotics and other pharmacological agents. Subsequently, the family states, the man began experiencing hallucinations and voicing complaints of intense gastric pain. However, according to the narrative, Odrex did not conduct any supplementary examinations.
He was physically restrained and dismissed as “unreasonably complaining” and displaying a “difficult temperament.” Following persistent appeals, he was transferred to St. John’s Rehabilitation Center. There, medical professionals endeavored to ameliorate the consequences of excessive medication administered at Odrex, yet his health deteriorated rapidly. On December 25, 2024, Christmas Day, he passed away. The identified cause of death was internal hemorrhage.
– says the family of the deceased.
Additionally, the family alleges that in the aftermath of the passing at Odrex, the facility purportedly declined to furnish a comprehensive inventory of prescribed medications and conclusive financial documents, which they assert were ultimately procured following numerous appeals.
ImportantThe UNN editorial team disseminates these accounts in conjunction with references to media sources. The reported incidents reflect the perspectives of the anonymous authors. All particulars are replicated in congruence with the original publications. The editorial team has not individually verified each assertion and urges the pertinent authorities to instigate a formal inquiry. As of the publication date, the UNN editorial team has not elicited an official response from the clinic pertaining to the aforementioned cases.
We will remind you
The catalyst for the surge in public attention surrounding the “Odrex Affair” was the demise of entrepreneur Adnan Kivan within the clinic’s premises. It is documented that he underwent treatment there spanning May to October 2024. Subsequent to his death, two physicians were formally accused of inadequate discharge of professional responsibilities, leading to the patient’s demise (Part 1 of Article 140 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
It was subsequently revealed that the implicated individuals were Vitaliy Rusakov, the head of the surgical unit, and Marina Belotserkovskaya, an oncologist who was relieved of her position at Odrex almost immediately following Adnan Kivan’s death. Based on the examination’s conclusions, investigators posit that the actions undertaken by these two physicians precipitated the death of patient Adnan Kivan. The case has since been submitted to the court for assessment on its substantive merits.
According to media reports, the accused surgeon purportedly neglected to prescribe antibiotics to the patient post-surgery and disregarded evident indications of sepsis. Furthermore, journalists have alleged that the medical practitioners executed numerous procedures that were contraindicated for the patient’s condition at that juncture. Among these were reportedly chemotherapy, administered by oncologist Maryna Belotserkovska.