According to a detailed 1,400-page indictment, the defendants allegedly collaborated in sharing the reimbursement each hospital received from social security payments for every day a baby remained in care. Despite these grave accusations, the defendants maintain their innocence, claiming their actions were always intended for the benefit of the patients. Dr. Firat Sari, one of the accused, asserted that the decisions made throughout the process adhered to all proper protocols.
As the trial began, public outrage flared, leading to protests outside the courtroom in Istanbul. Demonstrators chanted slogans like "baby killers will be held accountable" and called for the closure of private hospitals implicated in the scandal. The investigation was initiated after an anonymous tip-off in March 2023, following which ten hospitals had their licenses revoked. If convicted, the accused could face severe sentences for crimes including "homicide through negligence," fraud, and forgery, highlighting a dark chapter in Turkey's healthcare system.
As the trial began, public outrage flared, leading to protests outside the courtroom in Istanbul. Demonstrators chanted slogans like "baby killers will be held accountable" and called for the closure of private hospitals implicated in the scandal. The investigation was initiated after an anonymous tip-off in March 2023, following which ten hospitals had their licenses revoked. If convicted, the accused could face severe sentences for crimes including "homicide through negligence," fraud, and forgery, highlighting a dark chapter in Turkey's healthcare system.
