Re: Scandal of “newborn gang” that put profits ahead of babies’ lives rocks Turkey’s health system
Dear Editor
I recently had the opportunity to read an article published in the British Medical Journal by Owen Dyer titled “Scandal of ‘newborn gang’ that put profits ahead of babies' lives rocks Turkey's health system” [1]. This article made an important contribution in terms of revealing some of the negative practices in the private hospital system in Turkey and the dangers they pose to infant health. However, I believe that this incident should not be generalized to the entire healthcare system and healthcare workers. It is of great importance that the labor of many of our colleagues who work selflessly for the health of Turkey is protected and the legal process is concluded.
This ongoing legal process will ensure that the incident is clarified in all its details. While taking the necessary steps, healthcare professionals who do their work with ethical values and devotion should not be charged an unfair bill. It should not be forgotten that doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, both in the private and public sectors, provide services to society by adhering to ethical principles. As a private child and adolescent psychiatry doctor, I am concerned that the unnecessary burdens on my colleagues, who fight for the health and well-being of our children every day, will be exacerbated by false public perceptions.
It is a fact that profit-oriented approaches in the field of child health have negative effects on the sensitive developmental processes of children. However, it should not be forgotten that those who abuse this situation for individual gain do not represent the entire healthcare system and healthcare professionals. Such incidents demonstrate the importance of a transparent audit mechanism not only in the private sector but also in all parts of the health system. Every decision taken in the field of health should be evaluated with great sensitivity in order to rebuild public trust.
The completion of this ongoing legal process will be an important turning point for the prevention of unethical practices in our country. The fact that this process is not attributed to all healthcare professionals will protect the deserved reputation of healthcare professionals who adhere to ethical principles and provide services to the society. It is important not to generalize the whole country and the healthcare system with such incidents in order to restore the trust of the society in healthcare professionals. Health services are the fundamental right of every individual and this right must be protected in the best way possible.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that we healthcare professionals, who serve the society, are carefully following such ethical violations and improvements to be made in the healthcare system. It is our greatest hope that at the end of the legal process, we will contribute to a health system that is healthier, reliable and based on ethical values.
REFERENCES
[1] O. Dyer, “Scandal of ‘newborn gang’ that put profits ahead of babies’ lives rocks Turkey’s health system,” BMJ, p. q2466, Nov. 2024, doi: 10.1136/bmj.q2466.
Competing interests:
No competing interests
12 November 2024
Pınar Algedik
Medical Doctor
Haliç University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Rapid Response:
Re: Scandal of “newborn gang” that put profits ahead of babies’ lives rocks Turkey’s health system
Dear Editor
I recently had the opportunity to read an article published in the British Medical Journal by Owen Dyer titled “Scandal of ‘newborn gang’ that put profits ahead of babies' lives rocks Turkey's health system” [1]. This article made an important contribution in terms of revealing some of the negative practices in the private hospital system in Turkey and the dangers they pose to infant health. However, I believe that this incident should not be generalized to the entire healthcare system and healthcare workers. It is of great importance that the labor of many of our colleagues who work selflessly for the health of Turkey is protected and the legal process is concluded.
This ongoing legal process will ensure that the incident is clarified in all its details. While taking the necessary steps, healthcare professionals who do their work with ethical values and devotion should not be charged an unfair bill. It should not be forgotten that doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, both in the private and public sectors, provide services to society by adhering to ethical principles. As a private child and adolescent psychiatry doctor, I am concerned that the unnecessary burdens on my colleagues, who fight for the health and well-being of our children every day, will be exacerbated by false public perceptions.
It is a fact that profit-oriented approaches in the field of child health have negative effects on the sensitive developmental processes of children. However, it should not be forgotten that those who abuse this situation for individual gain do not represent the entire healthcare system and healthcare professionals. Such incidents demonstrate the importance of a transparent audit mechanism not only in the private sector but also in all parts of the health system. Every decision taken in the field of health should be evaluated with great sensitivity in order to rebuild public trust.
The completion of this ongoing legal process will be an important turning point for the prevention of unethical practices in our country. The fact that this process is not attributed to all healthcare professionals will protect the deserved reputation of healthcare professionals who adhere to ethical principles and provide services to the society. It is important not to generalize the whole country and the healthcare system with such incidents in order to restore the trust of the society in healthcare professionals. Health services are the fundamental right of every individual and this right must be protected in the best way possible.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that we healthcare professionals, who serve the society, are carefully following such ethical violations and improvements to be made in the healthcare system. It is our greatest hope that at the end of the legal process, we will contribute to a health system that is healthier, reliable and based on ethical values.
REFERENCES
[1] O. Dyer, “Scandal of ‘newborn gang’ that put profits ahead of babies’ lives rocks Turkey’s health system,” BMJ, p. q2466, Nov. 2024, doi: 10.1136/bmj.q2466.
Competing interests: No competing interests