Investigation into death of Ayas with autism

* Photo: From the local press in Elazığ - Manşet23

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Hospitalized after being allegedly maltreated at a care home in eastern province of Elazığ, Muratcan Ayas (21) with autism has died at hospital.

Ayas had been staying in the Eyşan Özgü Care Center for 2 months when he had a heart attack. Taken to a hospital with respiratory arrest, he could be recovered from death after a medical intervention.

His father Volkan Ayas appealed to the Elazığ Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and filed a criminal complaint against the care come, indicating that his son got sick due to negligence and lack of care. Following this complaint, Muratcan Ayas, who was in intensive care, has lost his life. The father repeated his criminal complaint against his son's passing.

The prosecutor's office has launched an investigation.

Speaking to bianet about the issue, CEVİZ Autism Research and Social Defense Association's Secretary General lawyer Deniz Yazgan has indicated that the inquiry of the prosecutor's office is still ongoing.

"An effective investigation must be conducted and the responsible parties must be put on trial," she has underlined.

'Ayas died of COVID-19'

When we called the care home officials, they indicated that Ayas lost his life due to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) at 2.05 p.m. yesterday and the allegations of the father do not reflect the truth.

They have also indicated that Ayas came to the care home around 40 days ago and was in COVID-19 quarantine for 15 days. They have also said that he had biting wounds on his body when he came.

They have added that Muratcan Ayas' grandmother has been staying in the same care home for 10 years and no problems have occured.

'My child was only drip-fed'

In his criminal complaint dated December 9, father Volkan Ayas has said they were not informed that Muratcan Ayas had got sick and he had been fed with formula and drip-fed for a long time:

"Murat Can Ayas is my 21-year-old son with autism. Around 2 months ago, we entrusted our son to the Eyşan Özgü Care Center for both treatment and boarding education.

"However, they hospitalized our son in the Elazığ Fethi Sekin City Hospital between November 24 and 26 because of excessive weight loss. We were not informed about this treatment.

"Then, after he was taken back to the institution, my son was fed only with serum and formula. They informed us about it at 5.30 in the morning while they were taking my son to hospital on December 2, when he lost body resistance and his condition worsened.

"I learned from hospital reports that my son had a heart attack and he was dead when he entered the hospital, but was then recovered from death after a medical intervention and taken to the intensive care unit. My son was taken to intensive care after this date.

"I think that the officials of the Eyşan Özgü Care Home has gross negligence leading to this situation of my son. I press charges against the workers, officials and executives of the care center."

As part of the investigation carried out by the prosecutor's office, a post-mortem examination was conducted yesterday (December 22). 

'They were informed'

Selahattin Bozkurt, the Vice Provincial Director responsible for Disabled and Aged Services, has also spoken to bianet about the issue and indicated that there was no negligence or lack of care. Underlining that they could not obtain any indications proving the allegations of the father, he has noted that Ayas' cause of death was COVID-19

Bozkurt has also said that they did all talks about Muratcan Ayas with his paternal grandmother and as father Volkan Ayas was not involved in this process, they did not have his contact details and, for this reason, they informed the grandmother about his health condition. 

"Whoever entrusted him to us was informed by us. When the father came to us later on, we informed him as well," Bozkurt has noted further.

The Eyşan Özgü Care Center has also released a statement and announced that it has filed a criminal complaint against the father on charges of "blackmail, insult and threat." (AS/SD)