19. The K Syndrome ruse is not well documented
Most of what is known about the deception launched within Fatebenefratelli comes from three sources. Vittoria Sacerdoti, Adriano Ossicini, and Pietro Borromeo, the son of Giovanni Borromeo all gave conflicting accounts of the story. The conflicts are over the dates involved, who gave birth to the scheme, who named K Syndrome and the meaning of the name, and other details. The numbers of refugees aided are also conflicting, as was the description of the ruse aiding other refugees besides Jews. Sacerdoti’s statements changed to conflict with his earlier accounts as he aged. So did Ossicini’s.
In an early account, Sacerdoti related that the ruse began on October 16, 1943, when 27 Jewish patients of his presented themselves at the hospital, seeking his help. He claimed that he developed the diagnosis of the false illness on the spot, admitted them as patients, and they remained in the hospital for only a few days. He speculated that some of them were likely denounced and deported later in the occupation. Ten years later he changed his story to reflect the accounts from Ossicini, claiming that it was he who had witnessed the raid on the ghetto on the morning of October 16 and devised the plan to admit those evading the Germans as patients before they arrived at the hospital.