The cruel healthcare workers who filmed themselves throwing banknotes on an elderly patient’s face as a sick joke have been banned from practising for three years.
The grim video showing the bed-bound ICU patient being humiliated by medical staff emerged from the private Bayindir Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, early last month.
The footage shows how a male health professional throws banknotes in the face of the elderly woman – named Nermin – whose condition means she is unable to speak.
Meanwhile, his female colleague behind the camera can be heard taunting her, jibing: “Nermin, why don’t you curse him? Say, ‘Stick that money up your *rse’!”
The male medic then cruelly jokes: “Do you know why I am giving this money to you? Because I will take your right kidney. This is the money for your right kidney.”
But Turkey’s Ministry of Health has now announced that criminal proceedings have been launched against seven people allegedly involved in the cruel prank.
Not only will they be banned from exercising their profession for three years, but they will also be tried and likely convicted and punished for their actions.
The Ministry of Health said in a statement: “After the images published on social media on 5th October 2022 and understood to have been taken in the intensive care unit of Bayindir Icerenkoy Hospital, the Ministry of Health took immediate action and launched an investigation at the relevant hospital on the same day, and the hospital’s activities were temporarily suspended.
“A judicial and administrative investigation has been initiated against the seven healthcare professionals mentioned in the incident; criminal proceedings continue for four of the seven people in detention, and for three of them pending judicial control.
“During the administrative investigation process, the file that was transferred to the Health Professions Board was discussed and resolved on 19th October 2022 and the relevant persons were banned from the profession for three years.
“It is not possible for them to return to the profession without undergoing 18 months of professional and ethical training.
“It should be known that this decision is the most severe sanction possible to be given by the Health Professions Board within the framework of the current legislation.
“These decisions taken by the Board are only related to the aspect of professional practice and are independent of the judicial process.
“As a result of the criminal proceedings in the court, there is no doubt that the persons concerned will receive punishments in return for the crimes they have committed.
“While conducting the investigation, the Ministry of Health examined and supervised all processes in the hospital in question, particularly the intensive care services.
“As a result of the investigations, the Responsible Manager was dismissed from his position.
“As of 2nd November 2022, the hospital has been allowed to continue to serve, provided that it is under the supervision of a Board appointed by our Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate.”
