Inaccessibility of induced abortion in Türkiye: Bioethics in the shadow of reproductive governance.

Abstract

In Türkiye, although induced abortion (I/A) is legal and recognized as a free public health service within the first ten weeks of pregnancy, reports and qualitative studies indicate that women encounter difficulties accessing I/A services in public health institutions. This paper suggests, based on various local reports and studies, that the denial of I/A in the last decade is, in part, attributable to various reproductive governance mechanisms that create a chilling effect on clinicians and institutions, making them unwilling to perform or provide abortions. Finally, based on a socio-political analysis of the status quo, this paper emphasizes that when discussing the inaccessibility of I/A or any topic related to reproductive ethics, it is essential that bioethical discussions must recognize and consider the role of politics and the reproductive governance mechanisms at play in reproductive healthcare, as they have significant ethical implications for the access and provision of these services. This approach allows for a deeper exploration of the less visible ethical implications of restrictive policies on legal reproductive services.