A MUM-of-two died when a surgeon punctured her abdomen during weight loss surgery in Turkey.
Emma Morrissey, 44, suffered a “massive bleed” on the operating table at the Termessos Hospital in Antalya in July last year.
Emma Morrissey died ‘unnaturally’ during weight loss surgery in Turkey
The private hospital tried to claim that the mum died from “natural causes” – not the surgeon’s mistake.
An inquest as Cheshire Coroners’ Court heard that Regenesis Travel, which arranged Emma’s operation, did not carry out checks to make sure she was fit for it.
Emma did not meet the criteria for gastric sleeve on the NHS, so travelled to Turkey to have the procedure done at a knock-off rate.
But she died from internal bleeding on July 8 2022 after a surgeon perforated her abdomen with an instrument.
Senior coroner for Cheshire Jacqueline Devonish said: “The health tourism company Regenesis UK relied upon patient self-declaration of health.
“They made no independent enquiries to satisfy themselves that Emma was fit for the gastric sleeve procedure before making the arrangement for her to have surgery.
“The series of health related pre-assessment questions asked before referral to the private hospital in Turkey were unclear.
“There was no evidence of a standard form produced by a medically trained source for the referring staff to refer to.
“The questions did not include an enquiry about family history of medical conditions such as cardiac related relevant to Emma.”
Have you been affected by botched health procedures? Email Harry Goodwin: [email protected]
Ms Devonish added: “There has been no evidence of an investigation into the operating table death by the Ministry of Health in Turkey, the private Termessos Hospital or Regenesis UK.
“This is despite Regenesis having been informed that the death had been caused by the surgeon during the operation.
“The embalming process for repatriation from Turkey to the UK was inadequate – leaving Emma’s body at risk of infection during transit.
“This presented a risk of decomposition as well as a health risk to the professionals receiving her body in the UK.
“The cause of death reported in Turkey was natural.
“In the circumstances of a massive bleed in the abdomen following the introduction of the instrument, the death is regarded as unnatural.
“The evidence before the inquest was that three incisions had been made to the abdomen, two of which were with a sharp instrument.”
Addressing travel firm Regenesis, Ms Devonish said: “In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you have the power to take such action.”
The company is now under a duty to respond by October 30.
On its website, Regenesis claims to offer “quality health care at affordable costs to a broader segment of people and to extend quality care beyond national boundaries through medical tourism”.
It adds: “We provide all flights, 24/7 transport service, interpreter service and accommodations to offer our patients ultimate comfort and care.”