In the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit mixed babies’ formula with alcohol. One of the 7 babies passed away while the treatment of the remaining 6 continues in the intensive care unit. The detention period for the 5 healthcare workers who were taken into custody has been extended by three days.
20-day-old Mihrimah Toymuradov, one of the 7 babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu Emergency Hospital in the capital city of Nicosia, passed away on the evening of October 25th, while 6 babies were intubated. The hospital employees taken into custody – Ç.Ş, A.D, G.K.A, K.Y, and M.A – were presented in court under heavy security measures.
The Nicosia District Court decided to extend the detention period by three days for the 5 suspects whose first hearings on the charge of “causing death by negligence and neglect” were held, to complete the technical examination related to the hospital, and to request the autopsy report of the deceased baby.
The crisis center set up at the hospital continues its work related to the incident. Families hold the Ministry of Health and hospital staff responsible, claiming that medical alcohol was given to babies instead of liquid nutrition.
As families wait outside the hospital, TRNC Health Minister Hakan Dinçyürek claimed in a recent statement that the health condition of the 6 intubated babies has improved compared to the previous day. The Chief Physician of the hospital, Dr. Erol Uçaner, confirmed the use of alcohol in the formulas.
President Ersin Tatar expressed his sadness regarding the incident and stated that he will follow up on the investigation. The situation arose when families, alleging that nurses at the relevant unit had given babies medical alcohol instead of liquid nutrition, attempted to enter the hospital.
The TRNC Ministry of Health stated yesterday that the situation had been referred to the judiciary following the death of a baby, and the police had taken 5 healthcare workers into custody yesterday evening.