In the Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), a nurse working in the neonatal intensive care unit of the newborn service caused the death of a baby by preparing their food with alcohol. While the investigation continued, 5 nurses who were arrested after 6 babies were intubated were released on bail by the court. Mihrimah Toymuradov, a 20-day-old baby among 7 babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu Emergency Hospital in the capital of Nicosia, TRNC, passed away on the evening of October 25th, and 6 babies were intubated.
M.A, A.D, Ç.Ş, G.K.A. and K.Y, accused of mixing alcohol into the babies’ food at the Nicosia Accident Court, appeared before a judge for “causing death by negligence and neglect.”
The court ruled that all defendants were to be tried without arrest under conditions of a travel ban, signing at the police station 3 days a week, depositing 200,000 TL cash bail per person, and signing 1 million Turkish Lira bail bond by 3 TRNC citizens as guarantors.
It was reported that there might be new developments based on the report expected from Turkey within the scope of the investigation, and if there were permanent damages in the 6 babies being treated at the hospital, the course of the trial might change. The Ministry of Health of the TRNC also stated that 3 out of the 6 babies who were first intubated and then received normal treatment due to medical alcohol in their food had been discharged and handed over to their families.
The Ministry’s statement noted that the health conditions of the other 3 babies still receiving treatment were stable. Mihrimah Toymuradov, a 20-day-old baby among 7 babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu Emergency Hospital in Nicosia, TRNC, passed away on the evening of October 25th, and 6 babies were intubated.
The process unfolded as families wanted to enter the hospital over allegations that nurses in the unit were giving babies medical alcohol instead of liquid food.
The TRNC Ministry of Health had announced on October 27th that the situation had been brought to the attention of the judiciary following the death of one baby, and the police had detained 5 nurses working in the hospital’s neonatal unit on October 28th.