Surgeon Unresponsive in Woman's Post-Op Death Probe

A planned inquest into the death of Morgan Ribeiro, a 20-year-old woman from Croydon, south London, has been postponed again. Ms Ribeiro travelled to Istanbul on January 5, 2024, for a gastric sleeve procedure costing £2,500. Three days post-surgery, she was cleared to fly but became critically unwell during her return flight to London Gatwick.

The flight was diverted for an emergency landing in Belgrade, Serbia, where Ms Ribeiro was admitted to intensive care. She passed away on January 13, 2024. A Serbian post-mortem examination, reviewed by a UK pathologist, indicated death due to diffuse inflammation of the retroperitoneum and a ruptured intestinal wall, suspected to be from a puncture during surgery.

Assistant Coroner Laura Stephenson stated that the inquest cannot proceed to a conclusion without input from the surgeon, Dr. Serkan Bayil. Despite repeated attempts to contact him at the Apera Health Group clinic in Turkey since December, Dr. Bayil has not responded. He previously claimed Ms Ribeiro died from an embolism, a statement contradicted by the Serbian findings.

The hearing was scheduled for May 27, 2026, but was adjourned to August 28, 2026, with the coroner indicating a conclusion will be recorded then, regardless of contact with the surgeon. Ms Ribeiro's parents are seeking answers and justice, with her mother advocating for stricter regulations to prevent similar deaths from surgeries abroad.