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36 Med. & L. 23 (2017)
An Overview of LGBT Rights and Health Legislation in Turkey from an Ethical Perspective

handle is hein.journals/mlv36 and id is 516 raw text is: 

Med Law (2017) 36:3:23-40                                 Medicine
                                                            and Law
                                                        World Association
                                                        for Medical Law
Bioethics
AN OVERVIEW OF LGBT RIGHTS AND HEALTH LEGISLATION
IN TURKEY FROM AN ETHICAL PERSPECTIVE



Perihan Elif Ekmekci* and Berna Arda**

       Abstract: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people
       have been and are still being subjected to discrimination and the
       violation of fundamental human rights based upon their sexual
       orientation and gender identity. In many countries, several international
       organizations, including the United Nations, the Council of Europe,
       the European Union and many nongovernmental organizations, are
       working together to raise awareness of this problem.

       As a member of the United Nations and Council of Europe, as well as
       a candidate for European Union membership, Turkey has obligations
       regarding LGBT rights and freedoms. The limited number of available
       surveys reveals that most Turks do not have positive perceptions of
       LGBT people. Although the Turkish Constitution guarantees certain
       fundamental human rights for every citizen, infringement of these
       rights for LGBT people is common.

       The fundamental right to social determinants, such as education,
       employment, social security and housing and the right to health are
       guaranteed for all citizens. There is a lack of specific reference in these
       legislative mandates and national policies specifically as to equality
       for Turkish LGBT individuals; this, together with little by way of
       negative consequence to combat discrimination, limits the realization
       of these rights.

       National legislation recognizes the right to gender reassignment
       treatment in Turkey but there are severe restrictions to this in practice.
       Gender identity refers to individual sexual identity and not necessarily


       MD, PhD TOBB University Department of History of Medicine and Ethics,
       Ankara Correspondent Author:. Address: Yildizevler Mah. 738. Sok Tria
       Residence B Blok No 41 Ankara. E-mail: drpelifek @gmail.com
**     MD Prof Ankara University History of Medicine and Ethics Department
       Ankara e-mail: Berna.Arda@ medicine.ankara.edu.tr

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