Brought to the agenda by the death of Metin Arolat: Investigation launched into 'death by vitamin IV' claim

Mehmet Gündoğan, who lived in Afyonkarahisar, visited a private clinic on January 13 with complaints of the flu. To alleviate his symptoms, Gündoğan was administered a vitamin IV, known colloquially as a yellow serum. Near the end of the IV drip, Gündoğan began to have difficulty breathing. His friend, who was accompanying him, called for help. It is alleged that Gündoğan was not asked whether he had any allergies to any drug groups before the IV was connected. 

Following the report, medical teams arrived at the clinic and transported Mehmet Gündoğan to Afyonkarahisar State Hospital. Gündoğan, who was taken into intensive care, passed away after a short time. An investigation into the incident has been launched by the Provincial Health Directorate teams. 

WHAT IS YELLOW SERUM? CAN YELLOW SERUM CAUSE DEATH? 

Emergency Medicine Specialist and President of the Ultrasound Working Group of the Emergency Medicine Association of Turkey, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özlem Dikme, drew attention to the fact that such IVs could even stop the heart in a statement she made to Sputnik Turkey in May, and used the following expressions:

“Many influencers are also making posts about this on social media. Treatments are being offered in a trend-like fashion under names such as yellow serum, vitamin serum, or atom serum. Recently, this situation has gotten so out of hand that there have even been cases coming from beauty centers and hair salons."

THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH HAD ALSO ISSUED A WARNING

Regarding the yellow serum, the Ministry of Health had also previously issued a warning, stating the following: 

“Serums known colloquially as 'atom' or 'vitamin-added serum' should only be administered when deemed necessary by a physician."

In its statement on atom serums, the Ministry emphasized that serum therapy would only be provided to individuals with specific ailments under physician supervision, noting that these serums would be administered by a doctor especially in cases of 'severe fluid loss.'

Pointing out that intravenously administered serums can cause serious allergic reactions, the Ministry of Health stated that serums administered indiscriminately could pose a life-threatening risk.

IT HAD ALSO COME TO THE AGENDA WITH THE DEATH OF METIN AROLAT

It had also been alleged that a vitamin IV caused the death of famous singer Metin Arolat, who lost his life on stage due to a heart attack. Arolat’s musician friend Kaan Öztürk had stated that on the day Arolat lost his life, he had a mixture similar to a 'vitamin or mineral IV' administered because he did not feel well.

News Source: 12punto