[Ethical Evaluation of Non-Therapeutic Male Circumcision]. / Tedavi Amaçli Olmayan Erkek Çocuk Sünnetinin Etik Degerlendirmesi.

Elective circumcision for nonmedical reasons is a surgical approach which is historically long standing and accepted as the most performed procedure. The necessity of the procedure is usually for religious and traditional reasons alongside some medical ground related benefits to enable its social acceptability. The discussion of the subject from the aspect of ethics becomes necessary as there is no consensus about the benefits or harmfulness of nonmedical circumcision. Fundamental ethical discussions about circumcision, which contradicts legal acceptance criteria of any medical application, are related to the basic concepts of the existence of an individual such as sovereignty, the loss of bodily integrity, and privacy. The recent legal processes and the fact that the European Council and the American Academy of Pediatrics have put the issue on their agenda have increased the necessity of these ethical evaluations. The responsibility of consideration and evaluation of ethical permission of every circumcision procedure, besides discussing the necessity of circumcision for improvement and protection of health rests on the shoulders of the physicians because the dignity and intellectual identity of the profession require so.

The socio-cultural perception of death in Turkish society recorded in lament epics (1955-1975).

This study explores the socio-cultural perception of death among Turkish people. For this reason, 210 published lament epics written by Turkish folk singers across all of Turkey concerning deaths between 1955 and 1975 were selected for analysis. These epics were published on single pages and were sold. The statistical analysis based on detailed content analysis was done at the univariate, bivariate, and multivariate levels. The results of the study provide a full picture of perception of cases of death in Turkish society. These results show Turkish society is especially sensitive to cases of death at young age and to the murdered. Further, a clear perception of the working of fate is encountered in deaths resulting from disaster and accidents; but the desire for vengeance is recorded in those laments concerning martyrs and the murdered. The statistical data show that most commonly cited reasons for death after road accidents, were a consequence of relationships with the opposite sex and from a sense of honor.

Provision 280 of the Turkish Penal Code: infringes on physician's dignity.

Every medical interference could be interpreted as an intervention into one's physical integrity and physical autonomy. This fact has brought along the necessity of determining the responsibilities of physicians, apotheosized throughout history from time to time, and to define the limits of the medical profession. The Turkish Penal Code (TPC) is the kind of legislation that imposes such limits. A revised version of the TPC has been in effect since June 1st, 2005. Ever since its enforcement, the TPC has attracted fierce criticism from several counts. However, Provision 280 is considered to be the most problematic one with regard to medical ethics. Along with several critical aspects, this provision stipulates almost a psychological violence for all health care professionals, particularly for the physicians as a matter of intervening with human dignity. The above-mentioned provision 280 needs to be annulled promptly in order to prevent physicians from remaining under psychological pressure while practicing their professions, as well as maintaining the moral values of the profession.