Turkish
hospital denies treatment to patient wearing headscarf
Ummahnews
4 July 2002
Turkish humans rights organisations have announced that they are
to take Istanbul University Hospital`s administrators to court over
the death of 72 year old Medine Ercan last week.
Hospital administrators at the hospital had denied the seriously
ill lady life-saving dialysis because they insisted the frail lady
reproduce her medical card but without a head scarf.
The act, which is said to be in direct contravention of the Geneva
Declaration, came as a result of a decision made by the University
Chancellor only a few weeks earlier. The university hospital became
the first hospital in Turkey to deny treatment to any women simply
for wearing a head scarf on their medical card.
Hospital doctors were forced to turn the lady away, despite her
grave condition, as they feared repercussions from the administration
if they treated her.
The Britain-based medical charity Doctors Worldwide has also urged
the Turkish Government "to intervene and halt this draconian
and ultimately fatal decision made by the University".
Doctors Worldwide (DWW) is a charity dedicated to the provision
of comprehensive medical relief worldwide PO Box 325 Stockport SK4
5YG United Kingdom
Ummah News : http://www.ummahnews.com
MEDICAL
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE IN TURKEY
Press release
Doctors Worldwide
4 July 2002
Doctors Worldwide supports the decision of Turkish Human rights
organisations to take Istanbul University Hospital`s administrators
to court over the death of 72 year old Medine Ercan last week.
Hospital administrators at the hospital had denied the seriously
ill lady life-saving dialysis because they insisted this frail lady
reproduce her medical card but without a head scarf.
This inhuman act, in direct contravention of the Geneva Declaration
came as a direct result of a decision made by the University Chancellor
only a few weeks earlier. The university hospital thus became the
sole hospital in Turkey to deny treatment to any women simply for
wearing a head scarf on their medical card.
Hospital doctors were forced to turn the lady away, despite her
grave condition, as they feared repercussions from the administration
if they treated her.
Doctors Worldwide also urges the Turkish Government to intervene
and halt this draconian and ultimately fatal decision made by the
University.
Doctors Worldwide : http://www.doctorsworldwide.org
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