COVID Prevention: Smother Infected Mother-in-Law

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 10 October 2020)

                        "Take my mother-in-law...please!"

In Antalya, Iraz M. (83) was hospitalized with a COVID diagnosis and

her son-in-law Hasan B. (51) was in the hospital with her as her 

'refakatçi' (person, usually a relative, accompanying a patient).  

However (!), Hasan bey was concerned that he might catch the virus

from his mother-in-law so he twice tried to smother her with a pillow.

On his second try, Hasan bey was caught on video taken by a hospital

security guard. (!) He now faces a 20-year jail term for attempted 

murder.

The incident occurred on 16 September at around 9 o'clock at night

in the 'Pandemic-4' section of Antalya Training & Research Hospital.

Hasan bey, who is a farmer and 55% sight-impaired, has been looking

after his mother-in-law Iraz hanım for 15 years.  A month ago he sent

her to his daughter's home, where hot water was spilled on Iraz hanım, 

sending her to the hospital. 

When Hasan B. went to see Iraz hanım at the hospital he learned that

she had been diagnosed with COVID so he stayed with her as the

'refakatçi' but his fear of catching COVID  from Iraz hanım reached

alarming proportions.  When a doctor discerned that Hasan bey had

tried to smother his mother-in-law he banished him from the room and

alerted security.  Nevertheless, Hasan bey snuck back into the room

and was caught on camera by the security guard smothering Iraz 

hanım. (!)

Hasan bey left this damning clue behind.

Hasan bey was expelled from the hospital and taken into custody the

next day at his home.  He has been charged with attempted murder.

In his own defense, Hasan bey explained that "I've been looking after

my mother-in-law for 15 years and my wife has been sick for 6-7

years so I'm really the only one taking care of her.  On the day my

mother-in-law was diagnosed with COVID, I told the doctor on the

phone that I didn't want to be her 'refakatçi' at the hospital." 

"As a result, he said he would write prescriptions and send her home 

with me.  I countered that I couldn't look after her at home but 

suddenly the phone line was cut.  My mother-in-law was lying naked

in the bed and continuously coughing so to protect myself I put the 

sheet above her forehead but I didn't put the pillow on her face - I

put it toward the top of her head.  Then I got myself a COVID test

and went home."

Shortly after, Iraz hanım died from COVID.  Hasan bey's trial will

begin in the coming days.