The trial at the 20th Heavy Penal Court in Izmir was attended by the detained defendant E.K, his lawyers, and the plaintiffs. During the hearing, E.K, who was given the floor, expressed his remorse for the incident and requested his acquittal. The public prosecutor, in his closing statement, requested a total prison sentence of up to 40 years and 6 months for the defendant, as stated in the indictment. The court sentenced E.K to a total of 25 years, 7 months, and 15 days in prison, with 16 years and 3 months for sexual abuse and 9 years, 4 months, and 15 days for drug procurement, including a discretionary reduction.
One member of the court opposed the discretionary reduction applied to the defendant, stating that it should not have been applied. The incident involved a female cancer patient receiving treatment in the intensive care unit of Ege University Medical Faculty Hospital, where male nurse E.K was accused of sexually assaulting her. E.K was arrested on May 25, 2023. The indictment prepared by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that on the night of May 17, the nurse is alleged to have sexually assaulted the victim, which was supported by witness statements and surveillance camera footage showing him administering drugs to the unconscious victim before committing the assault.
The indictment charged the male nurse with ‘sexual assault against a person incapable of defending themselves due to their physical or mental state’ and ‘procuring drugs’ offenses, carrying a possible prison sentence of up to 40 years and 6 months. While the trial of the male nurse continued at the 20th Heavy Penal Court in Izmir, the Izmir 5th Administrative Court ruled for the payment of 600,000 TL in emotional compensation to the family in a compensation lawsuit filed against the university. Both parties appealed the decision. The Izmir Regional Administrative Court 6th Administrative Dispute Department found the court’s decision in the family’s compensation lawsuit against the university to be in accordance with the law.
The verdict was related to a compensation claim filed by the family of the victim against the university where the male nurse worked. The ruling stated that the family should receive 600,000 TL in moral compensation. The court also took into consideration video footage from the hospital’s security cameras, witness statements, and other evidence during the trial. The case sparked public outrage and discussions about patient safety in hospitals and the need for stricter measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. The court decision and ongoing legal proceedings have further highlighted the importance of ensuring the safety and protection of vulnerable individuals in healthcare settings.
