Members of the medical chamber in Ankara, Turkey held a press conference on the health condition of hunger-striking educator Nuriye Gülmen, who is on the 215th day of hunger strike.
Following the decision of European Court of Human Rights allowing medical doctors of the two hunger-striking educators' own choosing to examine them, the medical chamber in Ankara filed an application for medical examination. Board members Dr Benan Koyuncu and Dr Onur Naci Karahancı told that they visited hunger-striking educator Nuriye Gülmen and examined her on October 5.
Primary school teacher Semih Özakça and academic Nuriye Gülmen have been on hunger strike over their sacking by government decree under the state of emergency imposed after last year's attempted overthrow of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
"SHE IS ALWAYS WATCHED OVER BY GENDARMERIES"
Dr Koyuncu and Karahancı noted that the room of Nuriye Gülmen in the intensive care unit of Numune Education and Research Hospital in Ankara was isolated from the other patients' room and that she is always accompanied by gendarmeries and a warden.
Saying that Gülmen was reading a book when they entered the room, board members noted Gülmen complained about the conditions she is being kept and the related health problems. They relayed that Gülmen was put in a derogatory situation since she is not provided with a regular toilet, but with a chair that has a plastic bag at the centre hole. In addition to that, she is not able to clean herself properly since the gendarmeries are in her room all the time. The board member doctors demanded that this imposition to be terminated immediately.
"SHE WANTS TO TAKE A BATH"
Board member doctors said that Gülmen was not able to take a bath since the day she was taken to the hospital and that Gülmen rejects the option of being wiped since she does not consider herself a patient.
Doctors noted that Gülmen was not able to practice joint exercises since she does not have an attendant with her and she was totally dependent on her bed. Although a hunger-striking person needs the assistance of a person to prepare water, sugar and vitamin B1 mixture, Gülmen does not have an attendant with her.
"I DO NOT CONSIDER GIVING UP THE HUNGER STRIKE"
Doctors also noted that Gülmen feels restless since she is constantly under the threat of forced intervention. Gülmen said "I do not consider giving up the hunger strike when we are kept in jail under these conditions, when there is so much smear campaign against us", doctors noted.
