Health Minister Memişoğlu's statement raises questions: He said May 2023, but there are new complaints...
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu stated that the process regarding the 'newborn gang' began in May 2023 and that they have been working day and night, but it has been observed that there were many complaints in 2024 as well. Among the complaints is Reyap Hospital, where gang leader Fırat Sarı worked. On the other hand, it was observed that new complaints have emerged regarding Şafak Hospital, which was closed and had announced that it had no connection to the matter.
Nagihan Yılkın
NAGİHAN YILKIN /12punto.com.tr/ EXCLUSIVE
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu made a statement regarding the investigation into the 'newborn gang,' which was determined to have caused the deaths of at least 10 babies in Istanbul and obtained illicit gains, stating that the process began with a tip-off in May 2023.
In his statement, Memişoğlu said, "Since May 2023, it has been a process where all state and relevant institutions have been working day and night to prevent illegality. With the letter from the Provincial Health Directorate and various wiretaps and evidence, the criminals or those accused of crimes were arrested. Penalties and closure sanctions were applied to hospitals. We are doing what is necessary both for the sake of the process and for punishment. Since May 2023, it has been a process where all state and relevant institutions have been working day and night to prevent illegality."
THERE ARE NEW COMPLAINTS
However, even though May 2023 was mentioned, complaints were filed after May, including against Reyap Hospital, where gang leader Fırat Sarı worked. A user named Şule, who wrote to Şikayetvar.com in July 2024, alleged that her newborn baby was taken to intensive care despite having no problems.
"THEY SAID 'BRAIN DEATH MAY OCCUR'"
Stating that they told her suddenly that brain death could occur regarding her baby, Şule said that her child was given antibiotic treatment for money. Stating that there was no doctor on duty at night for the babies in intensive care, Şule said, "They are only entrusted to nurses and staff."
"MY BABY BECAME DISABLED DUE TO NEGLIGENCE"
Another complaint is from a user named Sevil, who says her child was left disabled after incorrect treatment. Stating that she later learned that the person who said they performed the first intervention and introduced themselves as a doctor was actually a nurse, Sevil said, "My baby remained disabled due to negligence." Expressing that while the babies were crying inside, the doctors were watching a match with the nurses, laughing nonchalantly, Sevil said, "So many babies were coming by ambulance that it was like a revolving door, not an intensive care unit."
Contrary to the Ministry of Health's statements, the emergence of newly filed complaints has left question marks regarding the official statement.
Again, in a statement made today by Private Şafak Hospital, which is included in the indictment as having an agreement with the newborn gang, it was said, "Istanbul Şafak and Avrupa Şafak Hospitals have been providing reliable and respected service in the health sector for many years and have always considered patient safety and health as the highest priority. Our hospitals have no connection to this case file, neither as a witness nor as a defendant, regarding the mentioned 'newborn incidents'," although the complaints made are noteworthy.
"THEY FORCED US TO ADMIT THE BABY TO THE HOSPITAL"
For Bağcılar Şafak Hospital, a user named Zeynep also described what happened to her on Şikayetvar.com in June 2024.
Stating that they admitted her baby to intensive care by saying it was jaundice when they went to Bağcılar Şafak Hospital for a check-up, Zeynep said, "They scared us by saying this jaundice would cause brain damage, etc., and forced us to admit the baby to the hospital. The next morning at 06:34, blood was drawn, and the value dropped to 15. We said we wanted to take the baby out, and we went to take the baby out around 15:00 in the afternoon. We asked the nurse questions about the baby; she said, 'I am not a doctor, I cannot give information.' When we said let's talk to the doctor, another nurse came from inside a few times and gave information. They did not let us talk to the doctor. If it were up to them, they would have kept the baby in the hospital for 10-15 days. I'm glad I didn't leave my child."
VICTIMS ARE INCREASING AT THE CLOSED HOSPITAL
On the other hand, it was observed that grievances were experienced at Bağcılar Şafak Hospital, which appears as 'permanently closed' on Google, outside of the 'newborn gang' agenda. Victims generally complain about their unfinished procedures because the hospital was closed without providing any information, money taken from them unnecessarily, or not being able to get their money back.
Some of the complaints are as follows: