New development in the newborn gang case: Forensic Medicine Institute report prepared regarding the deceased babies

An indictment was recently prepared regarding the second wave of operations against the newborn gang in Istanbul, which gained illicit profits by referring babies to hospitals they had agreements with and caused their deaths through negligent behavior.

The number of defendants rose to 58 with the new indictment, which was prepared against individuals determined to have acted in concert with gang leader Fırat Sarı and was merged with the main case file. A new development has occurred in the case being heard by the Bakırköy 22nd High Criminal Court. A report has been prepared by the Council of Forensic Medicine (ATK) regarding the deaths of 10 babies. In the report prepared for the deceased Tokluoğlu baby, it was stated that there was no record indicating that the medication that should have been administered to the baby was given.

The Social Security Institution (SGK) investigation report stated that the baby was not provided with appropriate respiratory support and that this was not in accordance with medical rules. The report noted that the expert doctor Fırat Sarı, who organized the follow-up and treatment process conducted under inappropriate conditions, was also medically responsible. This responsibility stems from epicrises being written by non-doctors outside the hospital, X-rays taken for babies being swapped with those of other babies, blood gas results being fabricated to match the epicrises according to templates, laboratory values being tampered with, individuals without authorization working in intensive care units, and newborn babies being admitted by presenting units as Level 3 intensive care when they did not meet the requirements.

In the ATK report prepared regarding the Alkari baby, who passed away at Çorlu Reyap Hospital, it was stated that the baby was not provided with appropriate respiratory support and that this situation was not in accordance with medical rules. The report stated that weekly ultrasonography should be performed on newborns, that the baby's ultrasonography, MRI, and tomography examinations were not conducted, that it was understood from a phone conversation at 16:19 that the baby had died, that the diagnoses and time of death on the death certificate were inconsistent with the baby's clinical course, and that the flat-line electrocardiogram showing death at 18:32 was created later.

In the ATK report prepared regarding the deceased Öykü Helvacı and Kadan babies, it was explained that it could not be known whether the medications used in the treatment of respiratory distress in newborns were administered, that while at least one pediatric specialist or neonatologist along with at least one nurse should be present during the resuscitation of a 28-week-old newborn, it was understood from the wiretaps that no doctor was present, and that the doctor responsible for the baby's care, Dursun Eryılmaz, gave directives to nurses without seeing the baby or knowing its clinical status.

In the ATK report prepared for baby Melek Süleymanoğlu, it was stated that the responsible physician was negligent due to nutritional deficiency caused by not providing fats, proteins, and vitamins during the baby's stay, the presence of an infection in the baby's blood, and the failure to change antibiotics in a timely manner. The report included information that the patient, who was not referred despite heart disease, was not provided with appropriate nutrition, and did not receive timely antibiotic changes, lost her life due to serious negligence.

In the ATK report prepared for the Serdarova baby, it was explained that the nurse and doctor follow-up notes were not in the investigation file at Birinci Hospital and that the patient was not referred to a center where appropriate intervention could have been performed during the 44 days the patient lived. The report stated that the deaths of the Opara, Kaya, Karakoç, and Karaduman babies occurred due to malnutrition and deficiencies in infant care.