Turkiye fines over 100 doctors for Caesarean deliveries

Turkiye's health ministry has taken disciplinary action against more than 100 obstetrician-gynaecologists, fining them and suspending them from duty for performing Caesarean sections. The doctors are also required to undergo retraining, according to a report by BirGun newspaper.

This move comes as Turkiye registers the highest rate of C-section births among the 38 member nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In 2023, approximately 615 out of every 1,000 live births were performed via C-section.

Sources within the medical community suggest that C-sections are often preferred by medical staff due to their time efficiency, typically taking around 30 minutes compared to the 12 hours a traditional delivery can take. Additionally, performing C-sections is seen as lowering the risk of legal action related to delivery complications, offering a guarantee of safety for both physicians and mothers.

The government's actions align with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "Decade of the Family" initiative, launched last year to address declining birthrates. This initiative has led to increased government efforts to influence and control childbirth practices, emphasizing a push for what the president refers to as "natural" births.