ECHR fines Turkey for medical misconduct during mandatory military service

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has fined Turkey 81,000 euros for degrading medical treatment that resulted in a Turkish soldier losing his sight during mandatory army service in 2001.

The ECHR's ruling came after Hayrullah Akkoyunlu, a Turkish soldier who was serving in the southeastern province of ??rnak in 2001, filed a complaint with the ECHR over allegations that he had lost the sight in his left eye during his military service due to delays in access to medical care.

The ECHR said in a press release on Oct. 13 that it had concluded that Turkey had violated Article 3 - the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment - and fined the country 66,000 euros for pecuniary and 15,000 euros for non-pecuniary damages, respectively.

Akkoyunlu said he went to the infirmary of his regiment on July 25, 2001, complaining of severe pain in his left eye and that he was seen by a soldier who sent him away with eye drops, the ECHR said.

Disputing Akkoyunlu's allegation, the government in power in Turkey at the time stated Akkoyunlu had in fact been examined by a military doctor. 

Akkoyunlu then went once more to the infirmary and was told to rest in his dormitory before he was eventually referred to a hospital on Aug. 2, 2001, where he was diagnosed with a corneal ulcer, it added.

The ECHR said Akkoyunlu started treatment but completely lost the sight in his left eye. "Akkoyunlu, who was born in 1981 and is living in Istanbul, was deemed no longer medically fit for military service in July 2002 and discharged from the army. He is now entitled to a disability pension."

In October 2002, the ECHR said, Akkoyunlu brought compensation proceedings before the Supreme Military Administrative Court for the damage...