25.12.2025 13:53
Mehmet Alper Eroğlu, who was born with hearing loss in both ears in Adana, and whose heart stopped after anesthesia during his second bionic ear surgery, has been intubated and taken to intensive care at the age of 2. His mother, Fadime Eroğlu, who filed a complaint claiming negligence on the part of the hospital and doctors, said, "My son entered the hospital laughing and playing, but they left him bedridden."
Fadime Eroğlu (40), who lives in Adana, and her husband Hamza Eroğlu (46) welcomed their second child, Mehmet Alper (2), who was born with hearing loss in both ears. The Eroğlu family applied to the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department of Çukurova University Medical Faculty Balcalı Hospital for their son's treatment. Here, Mehmet Alper Eroğlu underwent his first bionic ear surgery on his left ear and successfully completed it. A surgery date was given for the procedure to be performed on his second ear.
On November 18, Mehmet Alper was brought back to the hospital and entered surgery, but his heart stopped after anesthesia. After the doctors intervened, Mehmet Alper Eroğlu was intubated and taken to the intensive care unit of the same hospital. The Eroğlu family filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office, claiming negligence on the part of the hospital and doctors. An investigation has been launched regarding the incident.
CHAIN OF NEGLIGENCE THROUGHOUT THE DAY: NO PREPARATION IN THE OPERATING ROOM Hamza Eroğlu, who claims he accompanied his son to the operating room and witnessed a chain of negligence throughout the day, stated, "The day before the surgery, we were told to come early in the morning, that the child would be given serum, and that the surgery would take place at noon. We were at the hospital at 07:00. We moved to the operating room at 10:00, but we waited here for 2 hours. During this time, the child was hungry, and they did not give him serum. They took us into the operating room. There was no preparation. They turned on the lights and laid the child on the bed. It was even noticed at that moment that the IV line was not open. Despite the attending doctor warning several times to 'give gas,' the anesthesia technician injected my child with that white needle while he was crying. At that moment, my child was crying, and he immediately closed his eyes," he said.
FATHER'S CLAIM OF 'INSUFFICIENT DOCTOR AND EQUIPMENT' Eroğlu, who described being taken outside at that moment, said, "The ENT specialist doctors were not there at all. I saw with my own eyes that there was no specialist doctor and that my child was not connected to any device. An hour later, they called me and said there was a complication and that my child was in intensive care. I think there was insufficient equipment and doctors there. Because during his first surgery, I personally witnessed that the anesthesiologist talked to my child in the waiting room, loved him. He accompanied him to the operating room and put my child to sleep under his supervision. In the operating room, a team of 7-8 people was ready and waiting. But this time, they laid my child down and administered anesthesia in a chaotic manner. There were only 2 people in the operating room. I filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office. We have initiated the necessary legal proceedings. We want the culprits to be punished," he expressed.
"MY SON CAME HEALTHY, HE BECAME BEDRIDDEN" Fadime Eroğlu, with tears in her eyes, stated that her son came out of the surgery for a simple operation in a bedridden state, saying, "My son was born with hearing loss. In May, he had his first bionic ear surgery on his left ear. We came to the hospital laughing and playing with my son on November 18 for the second surgery. Because it was a simple operation that we had experienced before, we went home after a one-day stay. Shortly after entering the surgery, they called my wife and said, 'Your son is in intensive care.' They had intubated my son. I was shocked when I saw my son in that condition. He had no illness or disability. They are saying he is now a child in need of care. I brought my son here in a healthy state. But now he is bedridden, has no reaction, and does not recognize me. He is just lying there and suffering. My son is fading before my eyes. I am the sister of a martyr. My brother gave his life for this nation. I am calling out to our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; it was supposed to be the year of the family, but they have destroyed my family. If there is negligence, I want all those responsible to be punished," she said.
"NOT A COMPLICATION, BUT A CHAIN OF NEGLIGENCE" The family's lawyer, Bedir Kara, stated, "The hospital management and the later prepared epicrisis reports state that there was a complication during anesthesia. However, to talk about a complication, all procedures must have been carried out completely and in accordance with the rules. There is a chain of negligence that began on the morning of November 18. The child has severe damage to his brain due to lack of oxygen. He has become permanently disabled. He cannot move any part of his body except for his eyes. His entire body is paralyzed. We have initiated the necessary legal proceedings regarding this. The investigation is ongoing. We hope that the culprits will be punished as soon as possible and that such things do not happen to other families," he said.