Doctor scandal at Bozüyük State Hospital: Started unnecessary surgeries, handed them over to cleaning staff

The Ministry of Health Inspection Board has completed its investigation into Dr. Sezer Zehir, who worked at the Bozüyük State Hospital in Bilecik.

In the report shared by İsmail Arı in Birgün, it was documented that the scale of the scandal was much larger, that people were operated on and had screws placed in their bodies even though it was not medically necessary, and that Brain Surgeon Sezer Zehir stayed in some surgeries for only one minute, leaving the operation to cleaning staff and medical company employees.

The scandals signed off by Sezer Zehir were listed in the 455-page Inspection Board report as follows:

- It was determined that Brain and Nerve Surgery Specialist Op. Dr. Sezer Zehir did not show the necessary care for patients during his surgeries, and that Cengiz Tanış, who worked as a cleaning staff member at the hospital, and supplier company personnel participated in the operations and performed medical interventions.

ALLEGATIONS THAT SOME PATIENTS WERE LEFT DISABLED

- It was alleged that unnecessary and inappropriate amounts of platinum screws were used, disregarding patient health, and as a result, some patients were left disabled.

- It was determined that he left patients with medical company employees and nurses without finishing the cases he was supposed to start and complete. Thus, patient safety was put at risk.

- Patients were transferred to the ward with the approval of cleaning staff member Cengiz Tanış, who performed medical procedures during surgery.

'LET'S USE BONE CEMENT'

- Doctor Zehir would give instructions to the medical company personnel entering the operating room, such as "Let's use this much bone cement," and then leave the surgery. Surgical procedures were performed by the medical company's personnel.

- It was concluded that all the materials used in the surgery of a patient named G.Ç. were unnecessary, and many other patients were also operated on unnecessarily.

- It was determined that in some of the operations where Doctor Sezer Zehir's camera recordings were examined, he stayed in the operating room where the operation took place for such a short time that no medical procedure could be performed. It was determined that he stayed for a total of 1 minute in the operation of a patient named Y.E.C., 2 minutes in M.G.'s surgery, and 5 minutes in G.Ş.'s surgery.

REPORTED 12 TIMES

- It was observed that the physician ranked among the top in public health facilities in terms of total material usage. Considering the size of the Bilecik Bozüyük State Hospital where the physician worked and the population it serves, it is assessed that more materials were used than normal numbers.”

The chain of scandals did not end there. The hospital's previous chief physician reported Doctor Sezer Zehir to the Provincial Health Directorate and the Ministry of Health exactly 12 times. However, all complaints were swept under the rug by the Provincial Health Directorate.

It was determined that the complaints sent by the previous chief physician between July 6, 2022, and June 9, 2023, his term of office, were not even answered. Although the inspectors requested that he be punished, a decision was made with the approval of the former Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca that "there is no need for disciplinary action" for the Bilecik Provincial Health Directorate officials.

As for Doctor Zehir, it was decided to give him a reprimand and a salary grade freeze and send him to another city. It is alleged that Zehir, who was sent to Adıyaman Training and Research Hospital, continues his examinations and continues to perform surgeries in Adıyaman.

News Source: 12punto