In a high-profile legal battle, Istanbul's court is weighing a case involving Dr. Firat Sari and 46 others who are accused of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that allegedly resulted in the deaths of infants. Dr. Sari, a prominent Turkish physician, is charged with transferring newborns to private hospitals' neonatal units for unwarranted treatments in order to receive social security payouts. If convicted, he faces up to 583 years in prison for a range of offenses, including negligent homicide and document forgery.
The scandal has ignited widespread public outcry, leading to the closure of ten implicated medical facilities. According to a state-run media report, the group may have caused the deaths of hundreds of babies over an extended period. Dr. Sari disputed the claims in court, saying, "I want to tell everything so that the events can be revealed." He denied allegations that the babies receive substandard care by underqualified employees. Prosecutors claim the defendants concocted false medical reports to exaggerate infants' conditions for financial gain from state funds and families.
Protests outside Bakirkoy courthouse reflect public anger, with demands for accountability and systemic health care reforms. The case has also prompted calls for Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu's resignation. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed stern justice for those involved but cautioned against vilifying the entire health care sector. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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