Medical services in Turkey to halt over doctor killing

Dr. Kamil Furtun

The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has announced that medical personnel around the country will halt all non-emergency services on June 1 over the killing of a doctor.

Dr. Kamil Furtun, 56, was shot three times by a 30-year-old man at a public hospital in the Black Sea province of Samsun on May 29. 

Doğan News Agency reported that the man, identfied as İsmail K., had lost a relative who was operated by Furtun. 

Once selected as the "Doctor of the Year in Samsun," Furtun died on the operation table, while the suspect, who fled the scene, was detained by police at his house where a pistol was found.

"I was just bored. I have such hobbies. I just like it, that's why I shot him. Do you have anything else to ask," İsmail K. told journalist while he was taken to the police center.

As police launched an investigation into the murder, the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) announced on May 30 that medical personnel around the country will halt all non-emergency services on June 1 to protest the killing.

"We are furious, because we know that a number of measures could be taken to prevent violence in the health sector," TTB's statement said, complaining that Turkey's Ministry of Health and parliament ignored their warnings despite three similar murders in the past.

In his election campaign rally in Ankara on May 30, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu addressed the issue, referring to Furtun as a "martyr."

"I'm addressing all my doctor brothers: You are sacred people doing a saintly job. All my citizens, let's stand together against the increased violence targeting health employees as we do against violence targeting women," he said.

The TTB had also halted medical services in April 2012 when another of its members, Dr. Ersin Arslan, was killed after being stabbed several times by the 17-year-old relative of a former patient.