Mother dies after surgery in Turkey
A MOTHER OF TWO from Co. Waterford has died in Turkey after undergoing a medical procedure – the second such tragedy in less than a month.
‘Beloved mum’ Carol Sheehan, aged in her 40s, had travelled to Turkey in recent weeks but tragically died on April 30. The body of Ms Sheehan, originally from Tramore, was brought home with the help of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
A spokesman for the trust confirmed to the Irish Daily Mail that it had helped in the repatriation of Ms Sheehan’s remains.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance to the deceased’s family. ‘The department does not comment on the details of any specific case,’ it said.
Ms Sheehan’s funeral took place last Monday at The Island Crematorium in Co. Cork.
She is survived by her sons Lee and Corey, her parents Betty and Bernard, sisters and brother.
One friend wrote on social media: ‘I will remember Carol as a person full of laughter and a smiling face whenever you would meet her. Gone too soon.’ Another said: ‘Rest In Peace cuz, what a devastating shock to so many. You shall be missed.’
Turkey has become increasingly popular among Irish people seeking to have dental treatment, hair transplants, breast augmentation and weight-loss surgery.
People can book medical appointments with little notice and the cost is significantly lower than in Ireland.
However, several Irish citizens have died in recent years due to complications after procedures abroad.
Last month, Tony Rogers, 66, from Co. Louth, died in the Turkish city of Istanbul after a dental procedure. The taxi driver is understood to have taken ill after getting an anaesthetic in the dentist’s chair. The Turkish authorities are now expected to hold an inquiry. And in 2020, Belfast man Richard Molloy, 33, died after travelling to the Turkish city of Marmaris to undergo dental work.
Irish surgeons have also reported a rise in patients seeking treatment after botched weight-loss operations abroad. Professor Helen Heneghan, of St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin, said: ‘Patients are presenting... with devastating yet avoidable complications of their surgery.’
Earlier this month, the British Foreign Office issued a warning to people travelling to Turkey for medical treatments. It said: ‘It is unwise to rely upon private companies that have a financial interest in arranging your medical treatment abroad.’
‘What a devastating shock to so many’