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This week in Turkey, the government and the police increased their attack on physicians and other health professionals who treated wounded protesters. The Health Ministry issued a letter calling for all of the names of patients who were protesters and the health professionals who treated them. The ministry also questioned the makeshift infirmaries that were set up in hotels to treat injuries and threatened suspension of physician’s licenses who worked in them.
In total, there have been nearly 8,000 people wounded including 59 who are in intensive care and 11 who have lost eyes. A 14 year old boy suffered a serious head injury from being struck by a tear gas canister. Many protesters were burned by chemical-laden water shot from the TOMAs or water cannon trucks. There are reports that the red water contained high concentrations of liquefied tear gas.
Police raided the makeshift infirmaries, confiscated all safety and health supplies and arrested three physicians. In response, doctors went on strike and marched through the streets in solidarity with their colleagues. They call on the international community to demand that the Turkish Government respect their right to medical neutrality, to treat all who need care no matter who they are or why they are injured and to respect their oath to protect the privacy and best interests of their patients.
The World Medical Association released a letter of support. Physicians in the US also send their support and call on others to join them. Dr. Walter Tsou, MD, MPH and past president of the American Public Health Association states, “The ability of health professionals to care for the sick and wounded during times of war is a human right. Arresting or threatening health professionals from doing their duty deserves the condemnation of the world community.”
We ask you to contact the Turkish Embassy in Washington, DC and the Turkish Consulate in New York to demand an end to the assault on peaceful protesters and the physicians who care for them. Click here for more information.
Margaret Flowers, MD
Patch Adams, MD
Richard A. Bruno, MD “No one should come between a doctor and his/her patient.”
Jeoffry B. Gordon, MD, MPH
Paul Hochfeld, MD
Jeff Kaplan, MD
David McLanahan, MD
Carol Paris, MD
George Pauk, MD
Marc Sapir, MD “Repression of popular discontents with government policies is besmirching the positive reputation that Turkey has achieved in recent years. Arrests and attacks on physicians for simply doing what we pledge to do for society–to help people who are ill, injured or in pain–amounts to a fundamental attack on human rights and is unacceptable in any civilized nation or world. Let them go.”
Jim Squire, MD “It is the professional, ethical and moral responsibility of health professional to treat everyone, regardless of whether ‘friend’ or ‘foe’.”
Bruce Trigg, MD “: “We must speak up to defend our brave colleagues who treat peaceful protesters in the face of violent state repression in Turkey”
Sandra Turner, MD
Walter Tsou, MD, MPH
J.V.Walsh, MD
