7-Year-Old Girl Dies During Dental Surgery Under General Anesthesia in Turkey

A tragic incident in Isparta, Turkey, has sparked widespread public outrage and raised serious concerns about the safety of complex pediatric treatments. Seven-year-old Ela Kocakogur, a second-grade student from Bordur, underwent a routine dental procedure under general anesthesia at a private hospital to treat multiple cavities. Due to her young age and severe dental anxiety, doctors decided to perform all eight required treatments in a single session under full anesthesia.

During the operation, Ela suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in the operating room. Despite immediate and prolonged resuscitation efforts by the medical team, she was pronounced dead. Following the tragedy, Ela’s family filed an official complaint with the state prosecutor, prompting a criminal and medical investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

Na'im Shaniort, president of the Isparta Dental Association, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and confirmed that legal and professional authorities are conducting thorough reviews. He stated that professional measures will be taken if negligence or fault is found. The private hospital involved defended its procedures, claiming all medical protocols were properly followed and describing the cardiac arrest as a rare, unforeseeable complication.

The family’s lawyer raised critical questions about the medical care provided, including whether all necessary blood and allergy tests were conducted before anesthesia, the dosage of anesthetic drugs administered, and whether a qualified anesthesiologist was present throughout the procedure, as required by Turkish medical regulations. The investigation continues as authorities seek to clarify these issues and determine accountability.