PHYSICIAN RIGHTS

RIGHT TO FOLLOW ETHICAL PRINCIPLES WHILE PRACTICING

  • A physician may face ethical dilemmas or conflicts with legal, political, social, aesthetic, or economic values while practicing. The physician must have the right to make independent and free decisions.

RIGHT TO ALLOCATE SUFFICIENT TIME

  • The physician is expected to give proper care to the patient, record information accurately, and provide necessary explanations about the patient’s condition.
  • All these actions take time.
  • Therefore, a physician has the right not to see more than 20 patients per day in an outpatient clinic. (Regulation on Medical Specialization, Article 10)

RIGHT TO REFUSE A PATIENT

  • Trust is the foundation of the doctor-patient relationship.
  • Preserving this trust is essential for maintaining the honor of the medical profession.
  • In short, except for emergency, official, or humanitarian duties, a physician may refuse to treat a patient for professional or personal reasons. (Medical Deontology Regulation)

RIGHT NOT TO GUARANTEE HEALING

  • The physician diagnoses according to scientific principles and applies the necessary treatment.
  • Failure to achieve healing cannot be criticized from a deontological perspective. (Medical Deontology Regulation, Article 13)

RIGHT TO CHOOSE TREATMENT METHOD

  • If multiple treatment options exist for a condition, the physician is free to choose among them.
  • However, priority should be given to long-established and widely accepted methods.

RIGHT TO CONSULTATION

  • The physician has the right to request consultation whenever necessary.

RIGHT TO PRACTICE WITHOUT PRESSURE

  • Any attempt to limit the clinical freedom required for professional practice contradicts the nature of the profession.
  • Especially in forensic medicine, if issues arise, the physician may apply to the Republic Prosecutor’s Office of Turkey.

RIGHT TO AVOID SITUATIONS AGAINST PERSONAL VALUES

  • In a respectful doctor-patient relationship, the physician can uphold personal values.
  • A physician should not be forced into practices that conflict with their own values.

RIGHT TO PROTECT PERSONAL HEALTH

  • The physician has the right to demand working conditions that minimize health risks while practicing.

RIGHT TO A SUFFICIENT INCOME

  • Keeping up with developments in the medical profession requires certain financial resources. Legally, the physician must maintain professional competence in line with the country’s medical standards.
  • This requires allocating budget for books, journal subscriptions, and conference participation.
  • Compensation should reflect the demanding, intensive, and high-risk nature of medical services provided.

RIGHT TO REFUSE TESTIMONY

  • Physicians may refuse to testify when professional confidentiality is involved. (Code of Civil Procedure (HUMK) Article 245/4, Criminal Procedure Code (CMUK) Article 48)