Top medical group demands probe into Turkish Red Crescent chief

The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has demanded that the Istanbul Medical Chamber launch an investigation into Turkish Red Crescent head Kerem Kınık, a doctor by profession, over his actions that do not comply with the principles of medical ethics.

Friday April 14 2023 11:17 pm

Duvar English

The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) on April 14 sent a letter to the Istanbul Medical Chamber, demanding that an investigation be launched against doctor Kerem Kınık, the head of the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay).

The letter signed by TTB Central Council General Secretary Prof. Dr. Vedat Bulut drew attention to Kızılay’s sale of tents to charity Ahbap in the aftermath of the Feb. 6 earthquakes as well as news reports of Kızılay mineral water brand being unhealthy.

The letter said Kızılay's actions showed that Kınık did not pay regard to people’s health and well-being in the post-quake period, which "is not acceptable in terms of ethical values of physicianship.”

The letter also recalled the TTB’s “Doctors’ Social Responsibility Memorandum” which reads: “The Turkish Medical Association acknowledges that every individual has the right to health and this causes social responsibility for doctors.”

Following the Feb. 6 quakes, Kızılay has been at the center of criticism, especially with the tent scandal. Citizens asked why it did not distribute the tents for free at a critical time, questioning what the organization has been doing with their donations.

Recent reports also revealed that supermarket chain Migros in 2019 detected large amounts of arsenic in the Kızılay mineral water brand “Kızılay Maden Suyu.”