INTRODUCTION
This paper on physician’s position against human rights violations is prepared by the Turkish Medical Association, the Forensic Medicine Specialists Association, and the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, to support your professional practices in the face of claims of human rights violations and the problems associated with the forensics practices that became a current issue following the coup attempt of 15 July 2016 in our country.
This document is predicated on the World Medical Association’s “Tokyo Declaration”; “the Declaration on Physician Independence and Professional Freedom”; “the Declaration of Hamburg concerning Support for Medical Doctors Refusing to Participate in, or to Condone, the Use of Torture or Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment”; and the Istanbul Protocol. The Istanbul Protocol is a UN manual on the effective investigation and documentation of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In all local and international lawsuits and investigations involving states, whether medical documentation and legal investigation procedures are conducted in accordance with the Istanbul Protocol is examined, and the decisions are given accordingly. Our colleagues conducting pre- and post detention medical examinations, and practicing medicine in penal institutions can access the Istanbul Protocol here.