Forensic Medicine Report Completed for Death During Gastric Balloon Operation
The Council of Forensic Medicine report has been prepared regarding the death of university student Ali Can Gül during a gastric balloon procedure.
The Council of Forensic Medicine report has been completed regarding the death of 22-year-old university student Ali Can Gül, who came to Mersin from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and lost his life on June 5, 2024, during a gastric balloon procedure.
Development of the Incident and Investigation Process
Ali Can Gül, a 22-year-old 3rd-year Software Engineering student at Girne University, fell ill and lost his life on June 5, 2024, during a gastric balloon procedure at the Private Mersin Ortadoğu Hospital in Mersin. Following the family's criminal complaint, a judicial investigation was launched into the incident.
The 8th Forensic Medicine Specialization Board of the Ministry of Justice examined hospital records, anesthesia documents, employee testimonies, and autopsy findings in detail within its 44-page report.
Findings of the Council of Forensic Medicine Report
The report noted that the gastric balloon was placed into the stomach under the guidance of an endoscopy camera, and while it was starting to be inflated with approximately 50 cc of fluid, the patient developed profound bradycardia and hemodynamic instability.
Contrary to the doctor's statement that the balloon was inflated inside the stomach, the report emphasized that the clinical condition developed by the patient indicated that the balloon had been inflated in the esophagus, and this situation constituted medical malpractice.
Determination of Medical Error and Causal Link
While it was stated that the balloon blocked the airway and was seen inside the mouth during intubation, it was expressed that the failure of the specialist doctor to remove the balloon in a timely manner—which needed to be extracted very urgently—was medically inappropriate.
The Council of Forensic Medicine unanimously opined that there was a causal link between the identified medical malpractice and the death of Ali Can Gül.
Status of Healthcare Personnel
The report stated that the medical interventions applied by the Anesthesiology and Reanimation Specialist and the Anesthesia Technician complied with the generally accepted principles and rules of medical science.
It was clearly stated that no medical error was detected in terms of these two healthcare workers.
Intervention and Moment of Death
CPR was applied for approximately 45 minutes to the patient, whose heart rhythm experienced a severe slowing down during the procedure, and the cardiology team intervened.
Ali Can Gül, who did not respond to the temporary pacemaker implantation and other interventions, passed away around 12:45 PM, and it was determined that his death occurred as a result of bradycardia due to vagal stimulation and airway obstruction.