Turkey doctors protest working conditions following Dr. Rümeysa Berin Şen's death

Medical professionals in Ankara held a memorial and protest to commemorate Dr. Rümeysa Berin Şen, an assistant physician who died in a traffic accident while driving home after a 36-hour shift at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital.

Organized by the Ankara Medical Chamber and supported by the General Health-Work Union, the demonstration highlighted ongoing issues regarding physician working conditions. Protesters emphasized that despite a 2022 regulation in the Medical and Dental Specialization Training Directive—which mandates that specialist trainees on night shifts should not be required to work the following day—some clinics continue to ignore these rest rights.

Participants used slogans such as “Physicians are not slaves” to demand the enforcement of legal protections for assistant physicians and to advocate for improved occupational safety and mandatory rest periods following long shifts.