A controversial statue of a nurse inspired by the video game character Lara Croft has sparked outrage among Polish medical workers who are demanding its removal from hospital grounds. The sculpture, located outside University Hospital in Zielona Góra, southern Poland, has been criticized as sexist and inappropriate for a medical facility.

The small figurine, named 'Zdrowitka' (meaning 'Healthy Woman'), depicts a woman in high heels wearing a low-cut dress with a short skirt, posed with an oversized syringe. The statue was intended to honor the work of hundreds of nurses, midwives, and female staff at the medical facility. However, medical professionals have responded with strong criticism rather than appreciation.

Zdrowitka is part of Zielona Góra's famous collection of 79 miniature statues called 'Little Bacchuses' scattered throughout the city. Similar to how Wrocław is known for its gnome statues, Zielona Góra has its Bacchantes. The name was chosen to celebrate the city's wine-making traditions, referencing the Bacchantes from Roman mythology - female followers of Bacchus, the god of wine and revelry.

The statue's creator, sculptor Artur Wochniak, who has made many of the city's Bacchantes, defended his artistic vision. 'Let her look like a Lara Croft-type warrior, only with a syringe instead of a gun. And let's just make her a cool, pretty, beautiful woman. And let her be a little sexy, like most of my bacchantes,' he explained, describing his creative inspiration. Wochniak emphasized that the Bacchantes are supposed to be witty, satirical, and entertaining in nature.

Nurses and medical professionals, however, are far from flattered by the tribute. Elżbieta Baliszewska, chairwoman of the District Chamber of Nurses and Midwives in Zielona Góra, announced that her organization is demanding the statue's removal. 'If there's a sculpture at the hospital entrance, symbolizing a nurse in this uniform, what should patients expect on the wards?' she questioned during an interview with TVN24.

Marzena Żołądziejewska, spokesperson for the District Chamber of Nurses and Midwives in Zielona Góra, expressed equally strong disapproval. 'I don't like the sculpture. It's so frivolous, sexist, and nasty,' she stated. The medical professionals argue that the statue undermines the dignity and professionalism of their field.

Hospital administration has taken a different stance on the controversial artwork. The hospital's President, Dr. Marek Działoszynski, defended the installation, explaining that the idea came about to mark the 80th anniversary of the Bacchantes tradition. He described Zdrowitka as 'sensational' and emphasized its artistic merit. 'The Bacchante is not a sad nurse, but a playful, artistic accent. It is a sculpture intended to delight and entertain,' he told the lubuskie.pl website.

The statue gained nationwide attention when it was unveiled on Friday, immediately sparking heated debate across Poland. By Friday evening, protesters had taken action by wrapping the statue from head to knee in white bandages, symbolically addressing what they saw as an injury to their profession's reputation.

A petition has been launched calling for Zdrowitka's removal from the hospital grounds. The petition's explanatory text argues that the figurine sexualizes nurses, perpetuates harmful stereotypes, and undermines the dignity of female medical staff who already face harassment and disrespect from patients and colleagues on a daily basis. The document states: 'Placing a statue in front of a hospital, associated with cabaret or erotica, is a symbolic slap in the face to all medical staff.'

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between artistic expression and professional representation in Poland's medical community. While some view the statue as harmless artistic satire, medical professionals argue it contributes to the objectification and trivialization of their essential work, particularly during times when healthcare workers deserve respect and recognition for their vital contributions to society.