“My Wife With AIDS Died For Not Being Treated”

Diela Joseph Diela, a refugee from Congo residing in the central province of Eskişehir since 2012, submitted a complaint at Eskişehir  Prosecutor’s Office against medical practitioners in Osmangazi University Hospital, saying that they declined to treat his wife who later on died of AIDS. 

Along with his advocate Alper Can Aykaç, Diela shared his story through a translator. Some of the highlights from the story are as follows: 

“On 15 January 2015, I called the 112 Emergency Service as my 6 months pregnant wife had a medical situation. The ambulance took her to Eskişehir Public Hospital. As soon as I got there, I found out that she was HIV positive. After a series of tests, she was transferred to Osmangazi University.

“We went to Osmangazi University Hospital the same day. We were asked about our medical insurance. They didn’t want to admit us to the hospital once they found out that we had none.

“We went back to the public hospital and my wife spent the night there. The next day, I went to the insurance office and paid my missing installment. My wife was transferred back to Osmangazi Public Hospital. 

“However, my wife’s situation was worsening. She stayed in Osmangazi University Hospital for two nights. In the afternoon of 18 January 2015, they found out that the fetus was dead. But they were unable to abort it. Around 5pm the same day, my wife died.

“I am submitting this complaint against all medical and healthcare staff that led to the death of my wife by not making the necessary interventions. I would like to see them published. I believe that they declined to treat her because she was HIV positive.”  

Advocate Aykaç also added that they have requested all the emergency call service records as well as the testimonies of all document signers and related camera footage. (AS/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.