MHRS scandal in hospitals: Women's medical records sent to their fathers

While shortcomings in the healthcare system are being exposed and debated every day, a new scandal has come to light.

According to a report by Birgün, medical treatments performed at state hospitals were shared with the patient's relatives via text message through the MHRS system, violating 'patient rights.' Women have been the primary victims of this system flaw. Ultrasound, laboratory, and pathology results of women visiting state hospital clinics were sent as information messages to the men in their lives, primarily their fathers, despite the women's own numbers being registered in the system. 'Adult' women stated that even when they went to the hospital for routine check-ups, the KVKK was ignored and their information was shared without their knowledge.

'IF I WERE A WOMAN UNDER PRESSURE FROM MY FAMILY, I WOULD NOT HAVE GONE TO THE DOCTOR'

27-year-old Sema T. had an ultrasound at a Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic. Despite Sema T., who lives alone, having her own number registered in all hospital and MHRS records, the information message regarding her procedure was sent to her father's phone number instead of her own. Noting that she was not even informed, Sema T. described her experience: “The results of the tests I had done within the scope of gynecology were sent to my father. This is a crime. If this happened abroad, it would be met with backlash. A lawsuit would even be filed against the hospital. If I were a woman under pressure from my family, I wouldn't have even been able to go to the doctor.”

B., a married woman who also visited a Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic for an ultrasound, had her results sent to her father as well. Sharing her experience on her social media account, B. said, “I pay my own insurance, and my husband is registered as my emergency contact. Believe me, none of these are valid reasons for my personal information to be given to anyone other than me.”

IT ACTUALLY CONSTITUTES A CRIME

Attorney Müjde Tozbey, President of the 'First Children and Women Association,' stated that the situation women are facing is a crime under the KVKK and a violation of rights. Tozbey made the following remarks:

“Disclosing patient records or health information to anyone other than the patient constitutes the crime of 'disclosing or disseminating personal data' under Article 136 of the Turkish Penal Code. The concept of 'personal data' refers to attributes that identify a person, such as population information (T.R. ID number, name, surname, place and date of birth, mother's and father's name, etc.), criminal record, residence, education status, profession, bank account information, phone number, email address, blood type, marital status, fingerprints, DNA, biological samples such as hair, saliva, nails, sexual and moral orientation, health information, ethnic origin, political, philosophical, and religious views, and union affiliations, which belong to the person, distinguish them from others, and are not presented to unauthorized third parties.

Therefore, since health information obtained after a medical examination at a hospital falls under a person's personal and private sphere, this information should not be shared with people such as a husband, father, brother, boyfriend, etc., unless the woman has given her permission and consent. The penalty for this crime is increased if it is committed by healthcare personnel, doctors, etc., working in public and private hospitals.”

'WE MUST OPPOSE THESE IMPOSITIONS'

"The sharing of this information, the impositions regarding women not having abortions despite there being no abortion ban, and even the requirement for spousal consent, are all unconstitutional. However, the reactionary order in our country and the AKP believe they have the right to interfere with women's lifestyles, working conditions, and areas of freedom in a way that contradicts the Constitution. With this belief, they confront women in hospitals with unlawful impositions. We must oppose these impositions.”

In a statement from the Turkish Medical Association, it was noted that patient rights were violated, stating, “If someone's number is registered in the MHRS system, a message may be sent. If there is no number in the system at all, this constitutes a violation of patient privacy. There have been such examples before. When a woman had a test done, a message was sent to her relative. Such messages can sometimes be sent via MHRS. This must be monitored.”