Investigation launches after death of Ayla Dalgalan

The Ministry of Health has launched an investigation after a ‘Sickle cell anemia patient Alya Dalgalan, died reportedly after receiving a transfusion of the wrong blood type at the Thalassemia Centre at Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital in Lefkoşa (Nicosia).

Dalgalan’s daughter Gülsen Mındıkoğlu is suing the State Hospital as a report found “deficiencies” in patient care.

“We spent that night in the ward of internal diseases. My mother was in a lot of pain. In the morning, she began to have difficulty breathing. I insisted to the internal diseases specialist for her blood to be transfused again, but the doctor didn’t listen,” Mındıkoğlu was cited as saying.
Mındıkoğlu, who dispatched her mother to NEU Hospital despite the doctor’s disapproval, said that her mother could not be saved after being treated there for a week. Mındkoğlu said both hospital records said that her mother was transfused with the wrong blood.
“My mother was in a lot of pain. She wanted to be put to sleep so that she didn’t feel pain. She also wanted me to find those who did this to her and sue them. ‘I trust you!’ was what my mother asked of me.” She said.
Mındıkoğlu explained that they requested an autopsy because they aim to file a lawsuit. Forensic Medicine Specialist İdris Deniz, who performed the autopsy, said that the samples taken were sent to the İnstitution of Forensic Medicine and Pathology department in İstanbul.