08.01.2026 11:54
In Adana, the couple Mahmut and Ülviye Deniz faced the risk of having a guardian appointed for their newborn baby because they did not want to have heel blood taken and vaccinations administered. Mahmut Deniz claimed that they were told they would be recorded as "fugitives" if they left the hospital, saying, "A guardian will be appointed. Is my child a municipality, a company, or property that a guardian is being appointed for?"
On Friday, the child named "Fahretdin" was born to the couple Mahmut and Ülviye Deniz at Adana City Training and Research Hospital. However, the couple did not allow heel blood to be taken from their child and did not want vaccinations. Following this, the doctors had the family sign a 'Heel Blood Refusal Form' and reported the situation to the Provincial Health Directorate and the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services. Additionally, according to allegations, the doctors told the family, "You will be sued for not taking heel blood, a guardian may be appointed for your child. If you leave the hospital before social services arrive, you will be recorded as a fugitive."
"THE FAMILY DID NOT WANT IT, BUT HEEL BLOOD WAS TAKEN" ALLEGATION
In response, father Deniz went to talk to the deputy chief physician about the process. During this process, according to allegations, nurses took heel blood from the newborn Fahretdin. After returning from the deputy chief physician, father Deniz, who was informed of the situation based on his wife's statement, spoke with the doctors and received the response, "We needed to take the blood; it was necessary to check for jaundice." Following this response, father Deniz took his wife and child out of the hospital.
"WE DID NOT WANT TO VACCINATE OR TAKE HEEL BLOOD"
Describing their experiences, father Mahmut Deniz stated, "Our child was born on Friday. Afterwards, we said that we did not want to vaccinate and did not want to take heel blood. Then the doctor came to my wife and said, 'You will be sued for not taking heel blood, a guardian may be appointed for your child. If you leave the hospital, you will be recorded as a fugitive.' While I was talking to the deputy chief physician, I said, 'Take the heel blood and vaccinate, but if anything happens to my child, you are responsible. Accept this responsibility and give me a written paper to sign.' He said he could not accept such a responsibility," he expressed.
"MY BABY'S NAME REMAINED 'FUGITIVE BABY'"
Deniz also claimed that the hospital management stated that they would be 'fugitives' if they left the hospital, saying, "My baby's name remained as 'fugitive baby.' A guardian is going to be appointed for my child. No one can take care of our child better than us," he said.
"THEY VIOLATED OUR CHILD'S BODY INVIOLABILITY"
Claiming that heel blood was taken despite their refusal to give it, Deniz stated, "They have already taken blood from our child's heel. They violated the body's inviolability. We were fighting for this. We were fighting to ensure that no harm comes to our child's body, and they violated this as well. They did not take any written consent from us. Despite our refusal to give heel blood, they took heel blood. For this reason, we were told that a lawsuit process would be initiated against us. It was said that there could be penalties such as lawsuits, fines, and guardianship appointments. We have seen examples of this before. I do not accept these," he said.
"IS MY CHILD A MUNICIPALITY TO BE ASSIGNED A GUARDIAN?"
Reacting to his experiences by saying, "Is my child a municipality to be assigned a guardian?" Deniz stated, "My child and wife are perfectly healthy. Is my child a municipality, a company, or property to be assigned a guardian? My wife's milk dried up after these incidents. We are waiting for the necessary support," he said.
"THE MOST RELIABLE HAND IS THE PARENTS' HAND"
The family's lawyer, Cüneyt Bülent Şeker, stated, "In my opinion, today the most reliable hand in deciding on tests and treatments for the child is the parents' hand. Because it is the parents who love their child selflessly and truly consider their best interests. The health sector's intervention in the child should be in exceptional cases and based on a necessary reason," he said.
On the other hand, the Provincial Health Directorate stated that the procedure regarding those who refuse to give heel blood is determined and implemented by the ministry.