Why we wrote this
Sending a form to a law firm in another country feels like dropping a letter into a well. You do not know who reads it, what they do with it, or whether anything happens at all. We wanted to take that feeling away, so here is the whole process, in order, including the parts where we say no.
Before you send: what to include, what to leave out
The form asks for your procedure, roughly when it took place, your country, and how to reach you. That is enough to start. Add a few sentences on what went wrong if you like.
Please do not attach medical records, passport scans or intimate photographs at this stage. Those come later, through a secure link we provide, once we know we need them. A first message with twelve attachments is not more persuasive; it is a privacy problem we then have to manage.
Step 1: first contact
You receive an acknowledgement, and within office hours a member of the team contacts you in your language by the channel you chose. The first conversation is short. Its purpose is to understand your situation, not to sell you anything.
A composite example, details changed. A patient from Milan wrote three lines at 2 a.m.: dental implants, nine months ago, "something is very wrong". The first call lasted twenty minutes and ended with a list of four documents to find. Two of them were already on her phone. She told us later that the list, more than anything we said, was what made the situation feel manageable.
Step 2: screening
We work through three questions: what was agreed and explained; what was done; what the harm is, medically, financially, and in daily life.
At the end of this step you will hear one of three things.
The third answer is given as plainly as the first. "A disappointing outcome, but not negligence" is not what anyone wants to hear. It is still the most useful sentence we can say to some people, because it ends months of uncertainty.
Step 3: records
Where a full review makes sense, we tell you exactly which documents to send and how. Typical items: consent forms, the treatment plan, the quotation; discharge papers and medication lists; photographs with dates; full message exports with the clinic or agency; invoices and payment proof; reports and imaging from doctors in your country.
Patients have the right to obtain their own medical records under Turkey's Patient Rights Regulation, which has been in force since 1998, and that right does not depend on nationality. If the clinic has not provided yours, we request them formally. That is part of the work, not something you have to fight for alone.
Step 4: medical opinion
A malpractice claim stands or falls on whether the care fell below the accepted standard and whether that caused the harm. Lawyers do not decide this; doctors do. Where the file justifies it, we obtain a written opinion from a specialist in the relevant field. We explain the result to you in plain terms, including when it is not what you hoped to hear.
Step 5: decision and written terms
If the medical opinion supports a claim, we set out in writing what we recommend, negotiation first and court if needed; how fees and costs work, including court, expert and translation costs; what happens if the claim does not succeed; and a realistic timeline.
You decide after reading this, not before. Questions are welcome at every line.
Step 6: power of attorney
To act for you, we need a power of attorney issued either at a Turkish consulate in your country or through a local notary with apostille and translation. We send the wording and tell you which route is simpler where you live. Nothing is signed before step 5. Our guide to claims from abroad covers both routes in detail.
Step 7: proceeding
Depending on the parties, a formal written notice to the provider or a pre-litigation step may come first. Many matters settle at this stage; others proceed to court, where your lawyer appears for you. You are kept informed at each development, in your language, and you are asked before any decision that affects the outcome.
One thing has changed recently and is worth asking about: international patients having surgical procedures are now required to be covered by complication insurance under a regulation published in April 2025, with reports placing enforcement from January 2026 (Hürriyet Daily News). Where a policy exists, it can be an additional route. We ask the provider.
What we will not do
We would rather lose an enquiry than keep one on false hope. If a lawyer anywhere promises you a sum or a date before a specialist has read your file, treat that as information about the lawyer.
Questions we hear
How long until I hear back?
An acknowledgement at once, a human within office hours. Istanbul time is one to two hours ahead of Central Europe, depending on the season.
Will you talk to my family member instead of me?
With your written permission, yes. Many patients ask a relative with better English, or more energy, to handle the correspondence. Tell us who, and we will copy them in.
What does the first review cost?
Nothing. The screening is free, and you will know before any paid step whether we think the file has substance. Costs after that are set out in writing before you commit.
Ready?
The case review form takes about a minute. If you prefer to talk first, message us on WhatsApp during office hours and we will arrange a call.
