The scandals surrounding Paolo Macchiarini have been going on for over a decade. Seven patients who had synthetic trachea implanted in surgery died. The former star surgeon was accused of research fraud and several senior KI executives were forced to resign. Here is a summary of the events of recent years.

Artificial throats

In 2010, the renowned surgeon Paolo Macchiarini was recruited as a visiting professor at Karolinska Institutet.

He will conduct research in the field of regenerative medicine - a field of research with a focus on replacing, constructing or regenerating human cells, tissues and organs.

Later that year, he also gets a job as chief physician and surgeon at Karolinska University Hospital.

In 2011, Macchiarini performed a first notable transplant at Karolinska Hospital - a cancer patient had an artificial, stem cell-covered, trachea implanted.

The procedure is initially described as successful, but it will later turn out that the patient suffers from several complications.

He died a year and a half later.

Between the years 2011-2013, Macchiarini performs a total of eight similar transplants with synthetic tracheae.

Three in Sweden and another five in Russia and the USA.

Seven of the patients die later.

The eighth patient has the artificial trachea removed and is still alive.

In 2013, Karolinska decides to stop all continued transplants of artificial tracheae.

It is also announced that it will not extend Macchiarini's employment as a surgeon.

Reported by colleagues - and released

During the summer of 2014, four doctors at Karolinska Hospital Macchiarini reported to KI for so-called misconduct in research.

They believe that in several scientific articles he has described research results linked to the transplanted trachea in an overly beneficial way - both in terms of the function of the implants and the condition of the patient.

KI gives Professor Bengt Gerdin the task of reviewing the reports and he agrees with the criticism.

Gerdin's conclusion is that Macchiarini has committed misconduct in research.

Shortly afterwards, the Swedish Research Council decides to stop all payments of grants to Paolo Macchiarini.

KI still chooses to free Macchiarini.

They state that he has not been guilty of cheating, but state that the research has failed in quality.

Later that autumn, his guest professorship will be extended for another year.

Reviewed by the media

The accusations of research fraud lead to several reviews, including the New York Times and SVT's Assignment review.

The magazine Vanity Fair also reveals that Macchiarini's CV contains several inaccuracies.

However, the documentary series "Experiments" from SVT's Documents from within has the greatest impact.

The close-up portrait shows how patients are injured and eventually die as a result of the operations.

The series leads to a major crisis of confidence in KI.

The heads roll

2016 will be a turbulent year for KI.

An external investigation led by Sten Heckscher will examine KI's handling of the entire Macchiarini case.

Shortly after the investigation began, Rector Anders Hamsten announced that he was resigning.

In the same vein, it is decided that Macchiarini will be fired from his position as a researcher at KI.

During the autumn, Lars Leijonborg will also announce that he will resign as chairman of the KI board.

Heckscher's investigation lands in heavy criticism of KI on several points: including for its part in the responsibility for the transplants, for the recruitment of Macchiarini and the decision to extend his employment.

Legal proceedings

In June 2016, Macchiarini was notified of the suspicion of causing another person's death.

However, the preliminary investigation will be closed the following year.

Prosecutors write that the operations were negligent because they took place in violation of science and proven experience.

But it is also stated that crime cannot be proven.

In the autumn of 2020, Macchiarini will be prosecuted instead of aggravated assault by the three patients who had artificial trachea implanted in Sweden.

According to prosecutors, the interventions have caused serious physical injuries and great suffering for the three plaintiffs, who are thus no longer alive.

The main hearing will begin in Solna District Court on April 27 and is expected to end on May 23.

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This is what happened: The scandal surrounding Paolo Macchiarini