M.D. Bengü Erten

My 82-year-old father was admitted to Ankara Hospital Acibadem after a severe sepsis episode following pneumonia. Dr. Bengü Erten managed his critical care with a precision that felt both scientific and deeply human. She explained the delicate balance of vasopressors and antibiotics in terms we could grasp, never dismissing our fears. What struck me most was her evening rounds—she'd sit by his bed, not just check monitors, but talk to him even when he was sedated, saying 'Your body is fighting, Mr. Ahmet, we're right here with you.' His recovery was slow, but Dr. Erten's unwavering vigilance and her ability to coordinate the nephrologist, infectious disease specialist, and respiratory therapist felt like watching a master conductor. We didn't just get our father back; we witnessed medicine as an art of fierce compassion.

Our 7-year-old daughter, Elif, was rushed in after a near-drowning incident at a pool party. The chaos in the ER was overwhelming, but the moment Dr. Erten entered the resuscitation bay, a calm focus settled over the team. She directed procedures with quiet authority, her eyes constantly moving between the ventilator settings, the monitors, and our child's small face. She didn't just treat a 'pediatric drowning case'; she saw Elif. She took a moment to squeeze my wife's shoulder and say, 'We are doing everything for her.' The 48 hours in the ICU were a nightmare, but Dr. Erten's updates were clear beacons. She explained the neuroprotective hypothermia protocol without jargon. When Elif finally opened her eyes, Dr. Erten was there, not with a triumphant smile, but with a gentle, 'Welcome back, little one.' Her expertise in pediatric critical care saved more than a life; it saved a future.

I was the 'routine' post-op coronary bypass patient transferred to the ICU for monitoring. I expected to be just another bed number. Dr. Erten changed that on her first visit. She reviewed my chart meticulously, then asked about a specific, pre-existing back pain I'd mentioned months prior to surgery, wondering if the positioning during the operation had aggravated it. No one else had connected those dots. Her follow-up was not just about my heart numbers; she adjusted my pain management and coordinated with physiotherapy for a mobilization plan that considered my whole body. She treated the 'critical care' phase as the foundation for my long-term recovery, not just a holding pattern. Her approach was proactive, holistic, and made me feel like a person, not a procedure.

My husband, a 45-year-old otherwise healthy engineer, developed a terrifying and rare complication—a thoracic aortic dissection—after a minor car accident. The situation was rapidly evolving and complex, involving vascular surgery, neurology, and intense critical care management. Dr. Erten was the steady captain in this storm. She presented us with the brutal facts without stripping away hope, using simple diagrams to explain the tear and the high-stakes balance of blood pressure control. Her decisiveness during a sudden episode of malperfusion was breathtaking. Later, she confessed she'd consulted with two international specialists overnight regarding a nuanced medication choice. That dedication to seeking every edge defined her care. His road is long, but because Dr. Erten navigated those first impossible days with peerless skill and intellectual humility, he has a road to walk at all.