Victim of stent bargaining scandal speaks out for the first time: 'I saw it happening to other patients too'

An investigation was launched into the scandalous bargaining by the Ministry of Health, the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate, and the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. 

As part of the investigation initiated by the prosecutor's office, the accountant H.Y., who was alleged to have bargained with the patient, was arrested and sent to prison. It was also learned that H.Y. was dismissed from his job following the incident.

In the video revealed by Sözcü reporter Hazar Dost, it was seen that the patient was offered stent options during an angiogram at a private hospital, with phrases such as "There is a 15 thousand lira one, an 18 thousand one, and a 30 thousand one."

STENT VICTIM PATIENT SPEAKS OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME 

Following the health scandal, the victim patient was a guest on the program Arena with Uğur Dündar. 

The victim patient revealed striking details about the scandalous bargaining and stated the following;

- Around 8-9 PM, when our blood pressure was high, we decided to go to the hospital by our own means so as not to block others. We did not call an ambulance. We went to Taksim First Aid Hospital. This was a public hospital, a place we trusted. We went to the hospital and were told that an intervention would be performed immediately.

- They said we would be sent to the intensive care unit three hours later. But the hospital's annex was a building located in the Gaziosmanpaşa, Karayolları district. Therefore, we went to this hospital, which was the closest. After waiting for three hours, a private ambulance arrived. They said, "It is coronary intensive care, an urgent intervention is needed." I said, "No, I don't want to, I don't want to go to a private hospital." However, they told me, "We have to, we will send you there," because they stated there was a risk of a heart attack.

- We accepted and went there. But when we arrived, while we were expecting to be taken for an angiogram by a team immediately, we were undressed. At that moment, I refused the woman who came to treat me to attach electrodes and said, "Give me a paper, I don't want the treatment." I wrote on the paper, "You do not have authorized personnel, you do not have a doctor, I refuse the treatment," and signed it. Then I took my clothes and went out in front of the door.

At that time, my wife was made to sign 60-70 pages of documents. While we were asking for the documents back, the night supervisors came and told us to wait for the doctor to arrive. 15 minutes later, the doctor arrived and persuaded us. We started the treatment again. At that time, I had severe chest pain and they said I was having a heart attack. But they said they would observe me until morning. I asked, "If I am having a heart attack, why are you observing me until morning?" Finally, they said the procedure would be performed after morning came.

- When morning came, nothing was discussed about money before the procedure was performed on us. While the angiogram procedure was being performed, the doctor said, "We will enter in a way that the stents will be guaranteed." But suddenly, I saw my wife at the door, in normal civilian clothes and unprotected. A little later, we started bargaining. I wanted to be content with what the state provided. I said a few times, "Give whatever the state provides." But during the procedure, they tried to bargain on a different issue. They asked whether they would enter through the arm or the groin. I said it would be dangerous if they entered through the groin, and I accepted entering through the arm. But they said there was a 7 thousand lira difference for entry through the arm. I said, "If you want, perform the procedure, let's do the bargaining later."

- At that moment, my wife started recording out of fear because we were officially bargaining. The procedure was performed through my arm. My wife recorded these later because the doctor had also tried to deceive my wife. 

- Afterwards, we were taken from the hospital with a phone call from the Ministry of Health. 15 days later, I saw similar situations in other patients as well. They had done the same thing to a woman, and that woman was crying. Since we heard about the incident outside, others also made similar complaints to us. Our situation was also proven completely with evidence.

- At the end of the incident, they told me I needed to stop by accounting when leaving the hospital. We went and talked. However, the figure applied was different from what we discussed. In the end, I got angry and paid the money. However, my wife asked for a receipt. Instead of a receipt, they gave us an A4 paper, we did not accept it, and they stamped it. Then, while leaving the hospital, I thought someone would contact me, but no one called.

- Also, when we went to Haseki Hospital, they told me that a third stent needed to be inserted. But the doctor said my kidneys could not be put at risk and that he would finish with two stents. He stated that I needed to have the third stent inserted within a month. It was already said on the table there that three stents would be inserted. However, at that moment they told me 30, and I paid the money. We finally settled the matter by bargaining up to 50 thousand lira.

- With the interest of the Ministry of Health, things were put in order, and they performed our angiogram. But what they said about the third stent was that I could catch an infection and my life could be at risk. Therefore, it is clear that a great risk was taken before the third stent was inserted. In this case, it was unthinkable that my life would be put in danger while bargaining.

- As a citizen, I am trying to explain this whole process we experienced regarding healthcare services. At another point, when I was on the table, I was undergoing the procedure with local anesthesia, and I do not think the bargaining done at that moment is a healthy thing.

News Source: 12punto