Mosul teacher files complaint over alleged bribes, medical negligence at public maternity hospital

MOSUL, Iraq — A schoolteacher from Mosul has filed a formal complaint with Iraq's anti-corruption commission, accusing staff at a public maternity hospital of soliciting informal payments from patients and committing medical negligence. Merve al-Tutunji said she submitted the complaint after undergoing a cesarean section at the al-Khunsa Women's and Obstetrics Hospital, which operates under the Nineveh Health Directorate. Al-Tutunji said she developed severe complications following the procedure, including a bacterial infection linked to inadequate sterilization, fluid accumulation in her body and intestinal paralysis. She was rushed into emergency surgery, narrowly survived, and was later transferred to al-Jumhuriya Hospital for further treatment, according to her account. The teacher also filed a separate lawsuit before the Mosul Left Investigation Court over the incident, stating that her experience was recorded in the hospital's medical files. The Nineveh Health Directorate said it has formed an investigation committee to examine the allegations and announced that staff members found at fault will face legal action once the review is complete.