Did Minister Memişoğlu visit the hospital where babies were killed? New detail in the scandal
Health Minister Memişoğlu, who visited the Özel Beylikdüzü Medilife Hospital—which was shut down as part of the investigation into the "newborn gang" accused of causing infant deaths—two months after the investigation began, was photographed with the chief physician.
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While the details of the "newborn gang" indictment, which involved transferring babies to contracted private hospitals after birth and causing their deaths, remain on the agenda, a new allegation has emerged.
It has been revealed that Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu visited the Private Beylikdüzü Medilife Hospital, where this gang operated and which was closed as part of the investigation, two months after the investigation had commenced.
In a statement to the Anadolu Agency regarding the visit, Health Minister Memişoğlu stated that he and Atilla Yılmaz, the chief physician of the hospital where the gang operated, were friends from high school and university, saying, "We were friends in the past; we are not very close right now. As the Istanbul Provincial Health Director, I visit many hospitals. I take photos in the places I go, regardless of whether it is the private sector, a foundation university, or a state hospital. If there is a necessity, I would close it even if it were my friend's hospital."
Minister Memişoğlu stated that the first report regarding the "newborn gang" was made to CİMER on March 27 and forwarded to the Provincial Health Directorate on March 28. Memişoğlu expressed that the ministry's inspection board and the Provincial Health Directorate took action upon this report and that inspections began, adding, "Our colleagues said, 'This gang is such a gang that they are manipulating, we cannot find evidence.' Upon this, we requested support from the Police on May 5, 2023."
Atilla Yılmaz, the chief physician of Medilife Hospital, which was locked down as part of the investigation, shared his photo with Minister Memişoğlu on July 11, 2023, which is approximately 2.5 months after the first report and 2 months after the police became involved in the incident.
Yılmaz noted under the photo that he was friends with Memişoğlu from both high school and university.
On the other hand, it was also revealed that Atilla Yılmaz was a CHP Beylikdüzü Municipal Council member. Following this situation, CHP Group Deputy Chairman Özgür Özel reacted by saying, "Whoever does not expel him from the party is a dishonorable person," and Yılmaz resigned from his party in a hurry.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the allegation that 12 babies died due to negligence after being admitted to the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Istanbul when it was not necessary, and the prosecutor conducting the investigation, Y.E., was threatened in his office.
While the emergence of the incident caused public outrage, an indictment was prepared by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against 47 suspects, 22 of whom are under arrest.
WHAT IS IN THE INDICTMENT?
In the indictment, prison sentences ranging from a total of 177 years and 6 months to 589 years and 9 months were requested for the suspects for the crimes of "causing death by negligent behavior," "qualified fraud," "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," and "forgery of official documents."
In the indictment, 10 deceased babies were listed as "victims," 5 people as "complainants," the Social Security Institution (SGK) Istanbul Provincial Directorate as the "party harmed by the crime," 19 hospitals and health companies as "civilly liable," and 47 people as "suspects."