Top 5 Most Common Medical Malpractice Cases in Turkey and How to Handle Them

Turkey has become one of the world’s top destinations for medical tourism, attracting hundreds of thousands of patients each year seeking affordable and high-quality healthcare. From life-saving surgeries to cosmetic enhancements, the country offers a wide range of medical services at a fraction of the cost charged in many Western nations.

However, with the surge in medical procedures comes a rise in medical malpractice cases. When things go wrong, the consequences can be physically devastating, emotionally draining, and financially burdensome.

At Oran Partners, Turkey’s only law firm dedicated exclusively to medical malpractice, we represent clients from around the globe in complex negligence claims. In this guide, we’ll examine the five most common types of medical malpractice in Turkey, along with practical steps to take if you become a victim.

1. Surgical Errors

Surgical errors are among the most severe forms of malpractice. They often result from poor planning, inadequate communication, or direct negligence during an operation.

Common examples include:

  • Operating on the wrong body part or even the wrong patient
  • Leaving surgical instruments or sponges inside the body
  • Administering incorrect anesthesia dosage
  • Causing unintended damage to internal organs

How to Respond:

  1. Request Your Medical Records – Obtain full preoperative, operative, and postoperative reports, along with anesthesia logs.
  2. Seek an Independent Medical Review – Have another surgeon review your case to confirm the error.
  3. Consult a Medical Malpractice Lawyer – An attorney can determine whether the outcome was a recognized complication or avoidable negligence.
  4. File a Malpractice Claim – If negligence is proven, you may recover damages for medical bills, lost income, and emotional suffering.

2. Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis

A misdiagnosis occurs when a medical professional fails to identify the correct illness. A delayed diagnosis means the right condition is eventually found, but too late to prevent serious harm.

Typical cases in Turkey include:

  • Cancer was misdiagnosed as a benign condition, delaying critical treatment
  • Failing to detect a heart attack or stroke in time
  • An incorrect diagnosis leading to harmful medication or unnecessary surgery

How to Respond:

  1. Get a Second Opinion – Another doctor can confirm whether the original diagnosis was incorrect or late.
  2. Collect Medical Evidence – Test results, imaging scans, and doctor’s notes are essential to proving your case.
  3. Hire an Experienced Lawyer – Misdiagnosis cases require proving that the delay or error directly worsened your condition.

3. Cosmetic Surgery Failures

Turkey is a global hub for cosmetic surgery, performing thousands of rhinoplasties, breast augmentations, facelifts, and liposuctions each year. Unfortunately, the high volume of procedures also means a higher risk of malpractice.

Common issues include:

  • Asymmetry or deformity after breast augmentation or rhinoplasty
  • Severe scarring or uneven fat removal after liposuction
  • Nerve damage
  • Post-surgical infections due to poor hygiene

How to Respond:

  1. Document the Outcome – Take high-resolution, dated photographs of the results.
  2. Seek Corrective Care – Consult a reputable surgeon for evaluation and possible repair.
  3. Contact a Lawyer Immediately – Cosmetic malpractice often requires expert testimony to explain how the standard of care was breached.

4. Medication Errors

Medication errors can occur at any stage of treatment—during prescription, preparation, or administration.

Common examples include:

  • Prescribing medication to which the patient is allergic
  • Administering the wrong drug or dosage
  • Failing to monitor harmful side effects or drug interactions

How to Respond:

  1. Keep All Medication Records – Save prescription labels, pharmacy receipts, and treatment notes.
  2. Report the Error – Notify the hospital or clinic in writing.
  3. Seek Legal Advice – A lawyer can assess whether the error meets the legal definition of malpractice and pursue compensation.

5. Birth Injuries

Birth injuries caused by negligence can result in lifelong consequences for both mother and child.

Common examples in Turkey include:

  • Misuse of forceps or vacuum extraction tools
  • Delayed C-section leading to oxygen deprivation
  • Failure to detect fetal distress in time
  • Incorrect medication administration during labor

How to Respond:

  1. Obtain Delivery Records – Request detailed labor, delivery, and neonatal care documentation.
  2. Seek Specialist Review – Have another obstetrician evaluate whether proper procedures were followed.
  3. Contact a Malpractice Lawyer – Birth injury claims are highly complex and often require multiple medical experts to prove negligence.

Proving Medical Malpractice in Turkey

For a malpractice claim to succeed, Turkish law requires proof of four elements:

Duty of Care – The healthcare provider was legally obligated to deliver a certain standard of care.
Breach of Duty – The provider failed to meet that standard.
Causation – This breach directly caused harm to the patient.
Damages – The patient suffered physical, emotional, or financial harm as a result.

Evidence is crucial—including medical records, expert opinions, photographs, and witness statements.

Challenges Foreign Patients Face in Turkey

Foreign nationals often encounter additional difficulties when pursuing malpractice claims:

  • Language Barriers – Misunderstanding medical explanations or instructions.
  • Unfamiliar Legal System – Navigating Turkish court procedures without local expertise.
  • Evidence Collection Issues – Difficulty obtaining complete medical records once they return home.
  • Uncooperative Providers – Clinics refusing to share documentation or acknowledge fault.

At Oran Partners, we specialize in overcoming these challenges by providing multilingual legal support, medical expert access, and direct liaison with Turkish medical institutions.

Why Choose Oran Partners for Your Case

We are Turkey’s leading medical malpractice law firm, exclusively dedicated to this field.

Our strengths include:

  • Specialized Expertise – Deep knowledge of both medical procedures and malpractice law.
  • International Experience – Successfully representing clients from Europe, North America, the Middle East, and beyond.
  • Proven Track Record – Achieving favorable settlements and verdicts in high-stakes cases.
  • Transparent Communication – Keeping clients informed at every stage of the legal process.

Take Action Quickly – Time Limits Apply

Turkish law sets strict statutes of limitations for malpractice claims—generally between two and five years, depending on the case. Acting promptly ensures:

  • Evidence is preserved before it’s altered or lost.
  • Witness statements remain fresh and accurate.
  • Your case is filed within the legal deadline.

Contact Oran Partners for a Free Case Evaluation

If you believe you have been a victim of medical malpractice in Turkey—whether as a resident or a medical tourist—don’t wait. The sooner you act, the greater your chances of achieving justice and full compensation.