A significant legal battle has erupted in Turkey as 47 medical staff, including doctors and nurses, are facing trial over accusations related to a scheme that purportedly involved the unlawful transfer of newborns between hospitals for financial gain. Prosecutors allege that these individuals played a role in the tragic deaths of at least ten infants by authorizing inappropriate transfers to private hospitals, where they were subjected to prolonged and often unnecessary treatments in neonatal intensive care units.
The detailed 1,400-page indictment claims that medical professionals manipulated diagnoses to facilitate these transfers, profiting from social security reimbursements for each day a baby remained hospitalized. Despite the gravity of the allegations, the defendants maintain their innocence, asserting that their decisions were made with the best interests of the newborns in mind. Dr. Firat Sari, one of the accused, defended his actions in court, stating that all procedures were adhered to in compliance with established protocols.
As the trial commenced, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Istanbul courthouse, demanding accountability and urging for the shutdown of the implicated private hospitals. Following an anonymous tip-off in March 2023, law enforcement initiated an investigation that culminated in the revocation of licenses for ten hospitals linked to the case. If found guilty, the defendants could face severe penalties, including lengthy prison terms for charges such as "homicide through negligence," fraud, and forgery.
