World Medical Association Warns Against Threats to Medical Professional Independence in Türkiye

The World Medical Association (WMA) today expressed serious concerns about developments in Türkiye that undermine the autonomy, self-regulation, and professional independence of the medical profession.

These concerns relate to the current restrictions that hamper the Turkish Medical Association’s ability to exercise its statutory disciplinary and ethical oversight duties, and to legal proceedings against forensic physicians in connection with professional assessments made in the course of their work.

WMA President Dr. JP Park said: “Professional autonomy and clinical independence are essential to patient care, public trust, and the integrity of medicine. Physicians must be able to exercise their professional judgment, fulfill their ethical responsibilities, and provide scientific opinions without fear of intimidation, interference, or disproportionate legal consequences.”

The WMA reiterates its Declaration of Seoul on Professional Autonomy and Clinical Independence and Declaration of Madrid on Professionally-Led Regulation, which affirm that physicians must be able to exercise their professional judgment free from any undue or inappropriate outside influence and that the regulation of the medical profession should be based on independent, professionally led mechanisms. It further emphasised that medical associations play a vital role in maintaining professional standards and accountability, and that concerns regarding medical practice or expert opinions should be addressed through fair and appropriate professional and legal processes.

The WMA called on the Turkish authorities to reinstate and rehabilitate without delay the Turkish Medical Association as the official body mandated to uphold medical ethics and professional deontology, and to ensure that physicians, including forensic medicine specialists, are able to carry out their duties independently and in accordance with medical ethics, international professional standards, and the interests of patients and society.