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TURKISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

TURKISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. P ressure on Physicians and Medical Neutrality in Turkey. Health Problems during Gezi Park Demonstrations.

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TURKISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

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  1. TURKISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION Pressure on PhysiciansandMedicalNeutrality in Turkey

  2. HealthProblemsduring Gezi Park Demonstrations • As a result of tear gas and brutal force used by the police during events, now called “Gezi Park Protests”, starting at the end of May 2013 thousands of people were injured and faced various health problems.

  3. HealthServices • Difficultiesin accessing relevant care services • The MOH failed to organize health services in such an extraordinary situation leading to so many health problems. Fewemergency aid teams ready to reach injured people. • MOH didnothingto stop policeviolence! • Those who could reach official health facilities during events were asked to fill in forms giving their personal information including their involvement in protests.

  4. Physicians, nurses, medicalstudents • Physicians, nurses and medicalstudents spontaneously run to the help of injured people to deliver first aid services • The MOH startedinquiring those health workers who were involved in these health interventions

  5. TMA andMedicalChambers • The Turkish Medical Association reconfirmed its commitment to extent first aid services to all without any distinction and stated that it was the duty of all health workers worldwide • Through its chambers, the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) gathered information about thehealthstatus of demonstrators • TTB conducted a web-based scientific study on health problems experienced by persons exposed to tear gas • Turkish Medical Association also took initiative before the World Medical Association to come up with a statement of position on the use of chemical riot control agents.

  6. CourtSuitAgainst Ankara MedicalChamber • The Ministry of Health appealed to Ankara 23rd Civil Court for the dismissal of the members of the governing bodies of Ankara Chamber of Medicine with the charge of “engagement in activities out of their original mission by establishing illicit, unauthorized and unsupervised healthcare service units under the name of ‘infirmary’”.  • Pretrialhearingwas on 30th September, 2014 • NexttrialDecember 23rd

  7. CourtSuitAgainst Hatay MedicalChamber • SelimMatkap, President of Hatay Chamber of Medicine, informed the public after autopsy conducted on AhmetAtakan, a citizen losing his life after falling down from a building during protests in this province. • MOHbrought a law suit against Dr SelimMatkap and the Governing Body of the local chamber for standing as a party and intervening in social protests which is claimed to be out of the mission of the Chamber. • Firsttrial on 14th October, 2014

  8. PhysiciansHelpingInjuredPeople in theMosqueare on Trial! • A penal case was brought against Dr. Erenç Yasemin Dokudan and Dr. Sercan Yüksel who delivered first aid services to citizens injured upon the disproportionate use of force by the police during Gezi Park protests on such grounds as “helping demonstrators” and “fouling a mosque while extending first aid”.  • Firsttrialwas on May 7th, 2014 • Nexttrialwill be on Novemeber 14th.

  9. Taksim SolidarityGroupand Dr. Ali Çerkezoglu-IstanbulMedicalChamber • Penal cases were brought against many leaders of professional and civil society organizations including Dr Ali Çerkezoğlu, Secretary General of İstanbul Chamber of Medicine. • Charges include “Establishing an organization for committing crime by participating to Taksim Solidarity Platform to exercise the right to participation for healthier cities, instigating people to unlawful assemblies and demonstrations and not disbanding a protest march in spite of warnings by the police.” 

  10. Manymorecourtsuitsagainstphysiciansrelatedto Gezi Park Demonstrations • Therearemanymorecourtsuitsagainstphysiciansrelatedto Gezi Park demonstrations in almosteverypart of Turkey • Kırklareli • 18 courtcasesagainsthead of thechamber! • Ankara • İstanbul • İzmir • Adana

  11. A newlegislationafter Gezi Park: Deliveringunauthorisedhealthservices • This new legislation invented a new type of “offence” as “delivering unauthorized health services” prohibiting physicians to deliver any health service other than in any place licensed by the Ministry. Sanctions for offenders include imprisonment from 1 to 3 years and monetary fine up to 2 million TL (about 900,000 USD). • ThisLaw (Number 6514, article 46) is effective since January 8th 2014 • TheLaw is in theConstitutionalCourt

  12. Givinginformationrelatedtopublichealthmayleadto be penalized! • Dilovasi • Industrialareawithheavypollution • Dr. Onur Hamzaoğlu • Professor of PublicHealth • Foundheavymetals in colostrum of mothersandmeconium of newborns • Informedpublicaboutincreasednumber of cancercases • PenalizedbyRector of theUniversityandinsultedbythemayor of thecity

  13. Givinginformationrelatedtopublichealthmayleadto be penalized! • Ergene • A heavilypolutedriver in Trakiaregion • Dr. Dilek Tucer • Gastroenterologist in a statehospital in Edirne • Informedpublic on healthproblemsrelatedtopollution of Ergene in a program she had beencharged • Removedfrom her jobbytheGovernor!

  14. TMA andTurkishDoctorsSay: Don’tMesswithmyHippocraticOath • Frequently, judicial mechanisms are regarded and operated systematically as instrument of suppression • There are many judicial inquiries and cases concerning physicians. • The recent legislation is intended to bring a system prohibiting the practice of medicine in a way compliant with the ethic codes of the professional and fundamental human rights. • Wethank WMA andotherinternationalmedicalandhumanrightsorganizationsfortheirsupport.

  15. State of Refugees in Turkey • War in SyriaandIraq • Morethan 1 500 000 refugeesfromSyria in last 3 years • Some in camps (250 000) • Mostoutsidecamps • Problems in preventivehealthcare, vaccination (measles, polio) • Incresedinfectiousdiseases (measles, leishmaniasis, danger of polio!) • Manyproblems in accomodation, basicneeds, gettinghealthcare

  16. State of Refugees in Turkey • EzidiRefugees • 25 000 • Indifferentregions of Turkey • Difficulttogiveprimaryhealthcare, vaccination • Danger of infectiousdiseases (measles, poliomyelitis) • Problems in legal status, andgettinghealthcare in hospitals

  17. War in Kobane-Syria • Warin Kobaneagainst ISIS is very hot • Morethan 150 000 refugees in lastmonth • ManyinjuredcomeSuruc/Turkey • A smallstatehospitalwithfewphysicians • TMA collectednames of voluntaryphysicians in differentparts of Turkeytoworkthere • TMA trytomakecontactwith MOH toassignvoluntaryphysicians in theregion

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