Forty-seven medics in Turkey stand trial as accusations surface regarding their involvement in the deaths of 10 newborns due to a scheme to transfer babies between hospitals for profit. Protesters demand justice outside the courthouse as the case unfolds.
Trial of Medics in Turkey Raises Alarms Over Care for Newborns
Trial of Medics in Turkey Raises Alarms Over Care for Newborns
A trial involving dozens of healthcare professionals in Turkey has drawn significant attention amid serious allegations of malpractice and profit-driven decisions impacting newborn care.
Dozens of medical professionals are facing trial in Turkey following alarming allegations tied to a scheme that allegedly involved moving newborns between hospitals for profit, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 children. The indictment, spanning 1,400 pages, has led authorities to charge 47 individuals, including doctors, nurses, and ambulance drivers.
Prosecutors claim that the defendants falsely diagnosed infants, facilitating their transfer to 19 private hospitals where they purportedly remained in intensive care for prolonged, and often unnecessary, treatments. The accused are said to have collaborated in sharing the social security payments accrued from each day's stay of a baby in these units.
In response to the serious charges, the defendants have denied any wrongdoing, asserting that their actions were made in good faith with the intent to provide optimal care for the infants. Dr. Firat Sari, one of the accused, maintains that all procedures adhered to were legitimate.
The commencement of the trial has sparked public outrage, with demonstrations erupting outside the courthouse located near Istanbul. Protesters have gathered in large numbers, voicing their demands with chants directed at holding the accused accountable for their actions and calling for the closure of the implicated private hospitals.
The investigation was triggered by an anonymous tip-off received in March 2023, which initiated a closer examination of the practices at these healthcare facilities. As a consequence of the inquiry, ten hospitals have already had their licenses revoked. If convicted, the defendants could face severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences for charges such as “homicide through negligence,” fraud, and forgery.
