HEWLÊR-Erbil, Iraq’s Kurdistan region,— Kurdish health authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan are investigating an allegation that a surgeon removed a kidney from a Peshmerga fighter who was wounded during the fight against the Islamic State (IS).

The Peshmerga member underwent surgery in a Turkish hospital where he was transferred by the Peshmerga Ministry for treatment after he was wounded in May 2015 during clashes against IS southwest of the city of Kirkuk.

“There was nothing wrong with my kidney, but I had ureter disorders. They didn’t inform me and my escorts before removing my kidney,” he told NRT under the under condition of anonymity. “I now have further health trouble due to the operation.”

The Peshmerga member is not the only person who has complained about receiving improper surgery. Many others have said their kidneys were removed or blame organ damage which they suffered.

The deputy head of the Peshmerga committee in the Kurdistan Parliament, Dler Mustafa Hassan, said they have received complaints from wounded Peshmerga and a committee has been formed to investigate the allegations.

“Some of them [wounded Peshmerga] have been treated, while some others have complaints for allegations in regard to wrong surgeries. We are investigation it,” he told NRT.

The Peshmerga Health Foundation has established a committee of medical specialists to discover whether such surgeries were performed “on purpose” and has said if this were the case they will then file a lawsuit against the Turkish government.

Nearly 1,000 Peshmerga wounded since IS proclaimed its state in June 2014 have been transferred outside of the Kurdistan Region for treatment.

As a result of the battle against IS, 1,654 Peshmerga have been killed and another 9,707 wounded.

The Kurdish Peshmerga in Iraqi Kurdistan are not unified forces, and considered as militias loyal and taking orders from the ruling parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan PUK.

Copyright ©, respective author or news agency, nrttv.com | Ekurd.net

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