Canan Karatay's ban from profession was reversed by the Constitutional Court: 'They are trying to silence me'

Internal Medicine and Cardiology Specialist Prof. Dr. The one-month ban from profession given to Canan Karatay due to the statements she made about vaccines in a television program she attended in 2018 was reversed by the Constitutional Court (AYM).

Evaluating the disciplinary punishment given by the Istanbul Medical Chamber and approved by the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) High Honor Board, the Constitutional Court ruled that Karatay's freedom of expression was violated.

The Supreme Court stated that the legal basis of the disciplinary penalty imposed due to medical explanations and the necessity of the intervention were not sufficiently demonstrated.

While it was decided to hold a retrial in order to eliminate the consequences of the violation, the file was sent to Ankara 14th Administrative Court.

"EIGHT YEARS LATER THE DECISION WAS MADE"

Making a statement to İHA after the Constitutional Court decision, Karatay argued that the penalty given to him was against the law.

Stating that he stands behind his views on vaccines, Karatay said:

"It was already an illegal practice. After a speech I gave in 2018, the Istanbul Medical Chamber and the administrative court gave me a one-month ban from the profession. We objected to these, and finally, eight years later, the decision was made by the Supreme Court."

Reminding that the decision was sent to the administrative court for re-evaluation, Karatay said that his statements were within the scope of freedom of expression.

"I HAVE 135 CASES"

Claiming that the criticisms against him stem from a certain understanding of medicine, Karatay stated that his thoughts about some vaccines have not changed.

Karatay said, "As a physician and academician for 60 years, I expressed my opinion freely" and continued as follows:

"Unfortunately, those who practice 'Rockefeller medicine' and think that only his suggestions are medicine always attack me. But they never won, I always won. All the cases are still ongoing, I have 135 cases."

"MEDICE HAS BECOME A TRADE NOW"

Karatay, who argued that different views should be discussed in the field of medicine, also reacted to the criticisms against him.

Karatay said, "Everyone's opinion is different and should be different. Science develops by conflicting with different ideas. They do not put forward any arguments against what I say, they just want me to remain silent, not to speak."

Claiming that medicine is shaped by commercial concerns, Karatay said, "Medicine has become a trade now. They serve that trade."

"SCIENCE DOES NOT DEVELOP BY SILENCE"

Stating that he found the Constitutional Court's decision important in terms of freedom of expression, Karatay argued that there were attempts to prevent his statements.

Karatay concluded his words as follows:

"They do everything so that I can remain silent and not speak. Science develops through the coincidence of mutual ideas; science and knowledge cannot develop by being silent and being silenced."