The amendment law regarding the prevention of violence against women and health workers was accepted by the Grand National Assembly

The Draft Law on the Amendment of the Turkish Penal Code and Other Related Laws (numbered 7406), which includes regulations regarding the prevention of violence against women and healthcare workers, was accepted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The amendment which includes changes in 3 different laws -namely the Turkish Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Health Services Basic Law, shall be valid upon its publication in the Official Gazette. Some of the prominent regulations are as follows:

• The scope of implementation of discretionary reduction terms is limited to certain subjects; and only the following criteria are to be considered when implementing: the past, social relations, behaviors of the perpetrator showing remorse after the act and during the trial process, and the possible effects of the punishment on the perpetrator's future.

• The perpetrator's non-repentant behavior and his formal attitudes and behaviors at the hearing that is aimed solely at receiving a discount shall not be considered as grounds for discretionary reduction. Formal behaviors of the perpetrator, such as paying attention to his appearance, wearing a suit/tie, shall not be accepted as grounds for discount.

• Verdicts shall include justifications for the discretionary discount.

• Sanctions have been increased for crimes of deliberate manslaughter, deliberate injury, coercion, torture and persecution committed against women. Accordingly, the sanction against deliberate manslaughter is increased to aggravated life sentence. Minimum rates for deliberate injury, coercion, torture and persecution are also increased.

• Persistent pursuit acts are regulated as separate crimes.

• The crime of deliberate injury a woman is included among the "catalogue crimes with presumed reason for arrest". Also, deliberate injury against those who are unable to defend themselves are included among the catalog crimes, as well.

• Upon request of the victim, the bar association shall assign a lawyer free of charge to women victims of violence who do not have a lawyer.

• Deliberate injury of the personnel working in health institutions and organizations during their duties or due to their duties are also included among catalog crimes with presumed reason for arrest, within the scope of the Penal Procedural Law.

• The Responsibility Board has been authorized for following the lawsuits filed for the compensation of the damages arising from the medical procedures and practices related to the examination, diagnosis and treatment performed by the physicians, dentists and other healthcare professionals working at public institutions and organizations and at State universities within the scope of the practice of the health profession.

The content herein is aimed at providing a general insight regarding the subject. For customized circumstances or for further information, please refer to your lawyer.