New development regarding the young man who died during a gastric balloon procedure
In the investigation conducted by the prosecutor's office into the death of a university student during a gastric balloon procedure at the private Mersin Ortadoğu Hospital, 6 of the 7 people detained for tampering with evidence—including the doctor—were released under judicial control, while the doctor's secretary was arrested.
İHA
Ali Can Gül (22), who lived in Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, was a 3rd-year student in the Software Engineering Department at Girne American University. Gül, who was also an amateur football player at Limasol Türk Ocağı, began to gain weight after an injury he sustained.
After recovering from his injury, the young man had trouble losing weight and applied to a private hospital in Mersin to have a gastric balloon inserted. Gül, who went to the hospital in the Mezitli district with his aunt on June 4, was given an appointment for the following day by the doctor they consulted.
Arriving at the hospital with his aunt on June 5, Gül underwent the operation after paying the 30 thousand TL fee requested for the surgery. A short time after the operation began, his aunt was informed that the young man had passed away.
His 50-year-old father, Hasan Gül, who was informed of the situation by his aunt, arrived in Mersin on the first flight and initiated legal proceedings, while the young man's body was laid to rest in tears in the village of Bahçeli in Kyrenia after the autopsy procedures. Security camera footage showing the university student's arrival at the hospital and the subsequent events has also emerged.
"FINDINGS RAISING SUSPICION OF INTERVENTION ON THE BODY AFTER DEATH"
In the investigation conducted by the Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 7 suspects were detained regarding allegations of tampering with evidence due to findings that raised suspicions of intervention on the body after death.
In a statement made by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated, "An investigation was immediately launched into the incident after A.C.G., who wanted to have a gastric balloon inserted at the Private Ortadoğu Hospital on 05.06.2024, died during the operation at the hospital.
A request for investigation permission has been submitted to the Ministry of Health's Professional Liability Board regarding the doctor who performed the operation, Dr. D.E., and other personnel to be determined by the board, for the crime of 'causing death by negligence,' and the result is awaited.
Within the scope of findings raising suspicion of intervention on the body after death regarding the incident, 7 suspects were detained for allegations of tampering with evidence.
Two of those detained were referred for arrest; of those referred, Dr. D.E.'s secretary, S.A.S., was arrested, and judicial control measures were imposed on the other 6 suspects."