Demonstration in Huddinge after Karin Pettersson was fired

A demonstration against the “reign of terror at Karolinska” was held on Wednesday.

A well-liked and experienced senior doctor has been fired on disputed grounds.

– They find reasons to fire in Putin’s way, says an employee.

The sun is shining and spring is in the air at Karolinska in Huddinge. But just as the demonstration is about to start, dark clouds move in.

All light disappears.

A compact mass of employees gathers. Several have food boxes in their fists.

– Demonstrations are sensitive. We have received an email with information about when you have the right to demonstrate and it is not now during working hours, says an employee who therefore wishes to remain anonymous.

In the email, management threatens with salary deductions if you take part in the demonstration.

“Inventing reasons”

The reason for defying management is that one of the country’s most famous obstetricians, Karin Pettersson, has been fired by Karolinska.

It should apply to errors of formality, how she used the job email and reported side jobs. But several people we talk to believe that it is because she criticized the management.

– They find reasons to fire people in a typical Eastern European and Putin way. That’s why we’re here, says another anonymous employee.

The regulations are described as narrow. In the case of Karin Pettersson, there was neither a warning nor an opportunity to correct stated problems before dismissal.

– Karolinska has pursued a repressive personnel policy. It has not least manifested itself with us, where a number of managers have had to quit their positions on very vague grounds, says Ida Lagerström, ST doctor at maternity care.

The employees at Tema kvinna, which includes maternity care and other women-related activities at Karolinska in Huddinge, do not know why their colleagues have been suspended or had to quit.

– At least four of our employees have lost their jobs in a short time. Allowing this to continue is a danger to patient safety. Then there will be an escape from the hospital in the end, says ST doctor Linn Levin.

And the way Swedish maternity care is today, can you afford it?

– No. You don’t have that.

No one we meet wants to quote the email from acting hospital director Patrik Rossi.

– But I perceived it as repressive and a little threatening, I have to say that. You can see here how many people stand up for Karin. That says quite a lot, says Jonas Ekvall, specialist doctor at the children’s emergency room.

Karolinska’s management believes that the reason the email was sent out was that managers got in touch and asked if their employees had the right to demonstrate.
— We sent out the message to make it clear that everyone has the right to demonstrate and express their opinion. Unfortunately, it was poorly worded and could be misunderstood. I really regret this, writes Patrik Rossi, acting hospital director in an email to Aftonbladet.

Are employees at Karolinska allowed to demonstrate against management?
— Of course, freedom of speech prevails at the hospital just like in the rest of the country.