Handan Tufan/JINHA

AYDIN – The case of Zeyla Süer, a woman who died when doctors did not perform a medically necessary abortion, has moved to Turkey's highest court.

Although abortion is legal in Turkey until the 10th week of pregnancy and in cases of medical emergency, reports are widespread in the country of doctors and hospitals refusing to perform the procedure. The women's shelter NGO Purple Roof found that out of 37 state hospitals in Istanbul that are legally obliged to be able to perform the procedure, 12 told inquiring women that they could not receive an abortion.

In January 2014, four-month pregnant Zeyla Süer was living in the Selçuk region of Izmir province when she was taken to the local state hospital with the fear that she would miscarry. Doctors there, who found that she was in imminent danger of death if she did not have an abortion, sent her to the nearby Aydın State Hospital for the procedure. There, Zeyla consented to the procedure and requested it immediately. However, rather than perform the abortion, Aydın State Hospital doctors administered a less-effective drug regime. Zeyla lost her life of the pregnancy disorder preeclampsia within four days. She was a mother of five.

Zeyla's family filed charges against the doctors in March 2014. However, the state-appointed governor's office initially refused to charge the doctors and instead held an investigation that found no evidence of malpractice. Family lawyers continued applying to several regional courts, but were repeatedly rejected. With local courts refusing to take the case, the Zeyla Süer case will now be tried in Turkey's highest court, the Constitutional Court.

(gc/mg/cm)