Donor withdraws, son dies of cancer; mother decries two-year justice delay

Filiz Şahin is seeking justice after her son, Cem Şahin, who was diagnosed with lymphoma, died in June 2024. His treatment was halted when a donor identified by Türkkök withdrew consent for a stem cell transplant, just before the procedure was to take place.

Cem had initially undergone chemotherapy, but when it proved ineffective, doctors moved to a stem cell treatment. The withdrawal of the donor's consent meant Cem could not complete this crucial stage of his treatment, leading to his death. His mother, Filiz Şahin, has been pursuing justice for two years, expressing deep frustration over the lack of progress.

"My search for justice is still ongoing," Şahin stated, detailing her struggles with various institutions. She reported that her case files were closed in some departments, requiring her to fight to reopen them. Most recently, the Vocational Institution permitted a prosecutor to investigate, but Şahin is still awaiting results, as the case file was sent to the Forensic Medicine Institute in September and no outcome has been reported since.

Şahin recounted instances where she felt dismissed and even insulted. "They listen to me everywhere as if I'm telling a fairy tale, they say 'Okay.' What I experienced is not a fairy tale. In some places, I was insulted, they put me down, they upset me. Didn't a cancer patient have the right to live? They told me, 'When has a cancer patient ever lived, why should your son live?'" she said, expressing her pain and disbelief at such remarks.

She has repeatedly contacted the Ministry of Health and deputy ministers, receiving only assurances that the information would be passed on. "If they find it important, they will get back to us," was the typical response, leaving Şahin questioning the value placed on her 20-year-old son's life. The prolonged legal and administrative delays mean Şahin cannot even properly grieve. "I can't live my grief," she stated, describing how her life has revolved around pursuing this case for two years without any resolution.