Overview
freedomforresearch-abortionfreedomforresearch-abortionfreedomforresearch-abortionfreedomforresearch-abortionOne of the few secular states in the Muslim World, Turkey’s legal regime is restrictive yet rather liberal if compared to the rest of the Muslim world. A wide range of ARTs are available to infertile couples. However in 2010 the Ministry of Health of Turkey revised its regulations pertaining to ART introducing new prohibitions and in particular restriction on the number of embryos that must be transferred as part of IVF. Women under 35 in their first and second cycles of IVF can only have a single embryo transferred, and a maximum of two embryos can be transferred for women over 35 and women under 35 on their third or subsequent IVF cycles (Guzoglu et at. 2012). Only a married heterosexual couple can pursue IVF. Frozen sperm cannot be shipped and the husband must appear at the clinic in person.
Research with embryos is controversial and, at least for now, not conducted. While the Egyptian Medical Syndicate opposes the use of embryos for experimentation, the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology and the director of the International Islamic Center for Population studies and Research support the use of supernumerary embryos for stem cell research. The Egyptian Government has no official policy as of now which leads researchers in the dark. Thus researchers in a private IVF clinic in Cairo are conducting on umbilical cord blood stem cells but not on embryonic stem cell.
Abortion laws are rather restrictive. Since the Egyptian Penal Code of 1937 (sections 260-264) prohibits abortion in all circumstances, abortions can only be performed on grounds of necessity (to save the life of the pregnant woman), certified by three physicians and with the consent of the husband unless the physician believes the operation is needed. Some interpret “necessity” to include cases of fetal abnormality that pose a threat to the health of the mother. “Morning after” birth control pills (Contraplan II, Postinor 2) are available but only with prescription. Mifepristone is not available.
Euthanasia is forbidden. Physician-assisted suicide and active euthanasia are criminally sanctioned. Advance directives are not enforceable.
Abortion
16 pts out of 100 / 90.00% complete
Abortion and contraception allow women to express their freedom of reproduction by exercising their right of self-determination over their bodies.
Measurement questions
Is abortion lawful to protect woman's life?
Legal but subject to significant restrictions
Is abortion lawful to protect woman's physical health?
No
Is abortion lawful to protect woman's mental health?
No
Is abortion lawful in the event the woman was raped?
No
Is abortion lawful in the event of fetal defects?
No
Does the law mandate that an abortion is performed at the mere request of a pregnant woman?
No
Is RU-486 (Mifepristone) approved or registered for use?
No
Are emergency contraception drugs lawfully available?
Yes, with prescription
Are family planning services provided through government-run programs and facilities?
Yes, directly
Is spousal notification/permission required?
Assisted Reproduction
46 pts out of 100 / 100.00% complete
Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are the methods used to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means. Access to assisted reproduction concerns our ability to expand our right to health by offering us access to treatment to overcome infertility.
Measurement questions
Is preimplantation genetic diagnosis permissible?
Yes with no restrictions
Is oocyte cryopreservation permissible?
Yes
Is embryo cryopreservation permissible for reproductive purposes?
Yes
Is sperm donation permissible?
No
Is oocyte donation permissible?
No
Are IVF surrogacy agreements enforceable?
No
Marital status requirements?
Yes
Do same-sex couples have access to ART?
No
Do single women have access to ART?
No
Are there any limits on the number of pre-embryos that can be transferred?
No
End of life
0 pts out of 100 / 80.00% complete
End of life decisions concern our ability to make choices concerning the end of our lives and take of the form of refusal of life sustaining treatment, being help in committing suicide, choosing euthanasia, and make choices that must be upheld even when the person becomes unconscious. As Young (2010) noted, "People have an interest in making important decisions about their lives in accordance with their own conception of how they want their lives to go."
Measurement questions
Is passive euthanasia lawful?
Legally prohibited
Is active euthanasia lawful?
Legally prohibited
Is physician-assisted suicide lawful?
Legally prohibited
Are advance directives (AD) enforceable?
No
Is a physician required to respect a patient's refusal of life-sustaining treatment?
Research with embryos
0 pts out of 100 / complete
Research with embryos and pre-embryos as well as therapeutic cloning concerns scientists’ freedom to investigate human biology as well as patients’ freedom to access regenerative medicine treatments that may be developed as a result of research with human embryonic stem cells. Since the early 2000s, research with embryos has been at the center of an often-polarized debate about the nature and scope of scientific freedom.
Measurement questions
Is basic research using germline modification in human embryos/gametes permitted?
Is pre-clinical research using germline modification technologies in animals permitted?
Is clinical research using germline modification technologies in humans permitted?
Are clinical applications of research using germline modification technologies (i.e., to initiate a pregnancy with edited embryos or with edited gametes) permitted?
GM Crops
0 pts out of 100 / complete
GM crops have contributed significantly to modern agriculture. Plant breeding using genetic modification techniques has led to improving crops in more targeted ways than classical breeding techniques. GM crops acquire desirable characteristics, including pest and herbicide resistance, enhanced robustness against diseases, drought or water tolerance, and healthier profiles that can enhance nutrition.
Measurement questions
Is research on GMOs permitted in the laboratories?
Is notification to start research on GMOs in laboratories required?
Is research on GMOs frequent?
Are GM crop field trials (the limited release into the environment for research purposes) permitted?
Is authorization to start a GM crop field trial required?
Are GM crop field trials frequent?
Is cultivation of GM crops (for commercial purposes) in open field permitted?
Is authorization to start open field cultivation of GM crops required?
Is open field cultivation of GM crops frequent?
Can GM crop commodities harvested in other countries be imported?
Is authorization to import GM crop commodities required?
Is the import of GM crop commoties frequent?
Right To Science Indicators
Measurement questions
- Access to benefits
What is the total general government expenditure on education?
10.51
What is the expenditure on tertiary as % of government expenditure on education?
39.62
What is the the percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed a doctoral degree or equivalent?
What is the percentage of population that uses the Internet?
41.25
What is the quality of math and science education on a scale from 1 to 7 being "excellent"?
2.8
To what extent is the Internet used in schools for learning purposes?
3.2
What is the scientific literacy of 15-year-old students as measured by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)(mean score)?
- Opportunities to participate
Does the law mandate nondiscrimination based on gender in hiring?
No
What is the percentage of females employed with advanced degrees out of total employed?
16.2
- Enabling environment
How many scientific and technical journal articles are published each year in physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, clinical medicine, biomedical research, engineering and technology, and earth and space sciences?
10807
What is the percentage of GDP allocated to Research and Development?
0.72
How may published articles have received at least H citations in the period 1996–2014?
14.5
What is the quality of scientific research institutions?
2.8
To what extent do business and universities collaborate on research and development (R&D)?
2.8
What is the average university ranking score of countries based on their top 3 universities?
22.9
To what extent are scientists and engineers available?
4.1
How many professionals are employed as researchers?
How many professionals are employed by government as researchers?
- International cooperation
To what extent are talented people attracted from abroad?
2.4