“We have just begun to see the outcomes of a few physicians involved in such a harrowing case, as an issue of trust [toward thousands of physicians] has emerged among families,” Professor Haluk Çokuğraş, the head of a Turkish pediatrics association, told private broadcaster NTV.

The case centers on a scheme that allegedly exploited the country’s social security system through fraudulent admissions of infants into intensive care units. At least 12 newborn deaths have been attributed to infection-prone units at private health care institutions, with several surviving infants now suffering from long-term disabilities.

Çokuğraş noted that in the aftermath of this horrific incident, several pediatricians have recently faced challenges in convincing parents to accept specific treatments, resulting in a surge of conflicts between families and physicians.

However, this erosion of trust could lead to more serious consequences in the future, as a baby in need of intensive care who does not receive it may end up suffering from irreparable conditions.