DOCTORS EXPLAIN

Doctors reacted to recent 'I am a prime minister who is against Caesarean births. I consider abortion as murder,' statements of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Gathering at the meeting of Istanbul Medical Chamber, the doctors drew attention to the measures taken in Turkey in order to reduce the increased rates in cesarean births; however they also noted that caesarean has been a life-saving method.

'Abortion is a legal right that's used due to economical and social problems and this right reduces maternal deaths caused by miscarriages.

Head of Istanbul Branch of Turkish Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Prof. Dr. Atıl Yüksel read a press release viewing the caesarean section and the abortion rates in the world and in Turkey.

Caesarean rate 45 percent in Turkey

Caesarean section rate is 25.7 percent in the world. Recommended rate is 15 percent by World Health Organization however none of the countries could not come up to this rate in the world and moreover, the rate increases day by day.

The rate in Turkey is 45 percent and Turkey is one of the countries with the highest rate just like Mexico and Italy. This rate is followed by USA and Korea with 33 percent.

"The choice of mother is important"

'Two years ago, the necessary measures to reduce cesarean rates are presented to Ministry of Health' told Yüksel. The target is to reduce the rate to 35 percent by 2013.

The recommendations are as follows: Increasing the number of midwife births, dissemination of pregnant schools, media campaigns, dissemination of painless childbirth and efforts to reduce the physician's fear of malpractice.

'Cesarean section is a surgical intervention, and surgical interventions should not be performed without medical reasons. However the choice of mother is also important' told doctors.

"Trials against doctors of obstetrics and gynecology increased"

'There's an increase in claims for damages against doctors due to baby losses especially in the recent years; so the doctors prefer cesarean section at the slightest risk. Legal measures to protect the doctors might be effective on this issue' stated the doctors.

'Do you think the doctors will have difficulty in persuading mothers to Cesarean section after the statements of Prime Minister?' asked the journalists and the doctors answere:

"Family will insist on normal birth. This will increase the risk to the health of mother and child"

"Maternal mortality increases when abortion is not legal"

"The definition of abortion is 'termination of unwanted pregnancies under safe conditions, and therefore the prevention of maternal deaths' " reminded Yüksel.

46 million women have miscarriages every year in the world and 49 percent of them happen under unsafe conditions.

Maternal deaths occur in the countries where optional abortion is restricted by law. This is 95 percent of deaths in Africa and Asia, and 4 percent in Latin America.

Optional abortion takes place in Turkey under "Population Planning Law" adopted in 1983.

Women have the right to terminate pregnancy optionally up to 10 weeks. After 10 weeks, the pregnancy may be terminated due to mother's life-threatening situations or severe and vital abnormalities of the baby through approval of the families or recommendations of the physicians.

"Abortion is not a way of family planning, but a legal right "

"Abortion is not a way of 'family planning' however defining abortion as murder annoys us as people use their abortion rights due to economical and social problems," told Yüksel.

Head of İTO Prof. Dr. Taner Gören, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine Retired Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Prof. Dr. Selçuk Erez, Dr. Faruk Buyru and Dr. Fehmi Yazıcıoğlu from Istanbul Branch of Turkish Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics attended the meeting (NV)