‘The patient is a VIP’: Inside Jeffrey Epstein’s close ties to Mount Sinai Hospital
Dr. Ira Bleiweiss at Mount Sinai Hospital unknowingly treated Karyna Shuliak, Jeffrey Epstein’s girlfriend, in 2014 after Eva Andersson-Dubin, Epstein’s ex-girlfriend and breast center founder, referred her. The Justice Department’s Epstein files reveal how Epstein leveraged connections at Mount Sinai for preferential medical treatment, raising ethical concerns about donor influence and conflicts of interest at the prestigious New York hospital.
A 2014 email from Eva Andersson-Dubin, founder of Mount Sinai Hospital’s Dubin Breast Center, directed Dr. Ira Bleiweiss to consult on a breast cancer case involving Karyna Shuliak, the daughter of a patient. Unbeknownst to Bleiweiss, Shuliak was Jeffrey Epstein’s girlfriend at the time, and Andersson-Dubin was Epstein’s ex-girlfriend. The referral occurred years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor, exposing how he used his elite connections for personal medical access. The Justice Department’s released Epstein files highlight systemic preferential treatment at Mount Sinai, including house calls and expedited care for Epstein and his associates. Doctors reportedly acted on Epstein’s requests, and the hospital’s reliance on high-profile donors like the Dubins—whose name remains on the breast center—raises concerns about conflicts of interest. Some doctors involved in Epstein’s care still work at Mount Sinai, while the hospital’s internal investigation remains undisclosed. Mount Sinai’s vice president of public affairs stated the hospital condemns Epstein’s actions but declined to address specifics, including the investigation’s status or financial ties. The case underscores how elite institutions may prioritize donor relationships over ethical standards, particularly when wealth and influence intersect with medical care. Bleiweiss, now at the University of Pennsylvania, said he had no knowledge of Epstein’s ties to Mount Sinai during his tenure and was shocked by the revelations. The hospital’s response has been limited to vague assurances of patient care, leaving unanswered questions about accountability and transparency. The scandal reflects broader issues in high-end medicine, where wealthy patients often receive expedited or specialized treatment. Mount Sinai’s refusal to detail its Epstein-related accounting or internal findings further complicates efforts to restore public trust in its operations.
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