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Journals / Journal of Experimental and Clinical Medicine / 2026 / Volume: 43 Issue: 2

Forensic-Medical Evaluation of Individuals Presenting for Gender Reassignment in Southern Türkiye: A Retrospective Study (2015–2021)

Mehmet Atılgan(AKDENİZ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, ADLİ TIP ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0002-5182-3301
Sema Demircin(AKDENİZ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, ADLİ TIP ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0003-3669-6823
Okan Kılınç(Etlik Şehir Hastanesi)0000-0002-5313-653X
Mustafa Levent Özgönül(AKDENİZ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ, TEMEL TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, TIP TARİHİ VE ETİK ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0003-4135-1643
Ali Erdoğan(AKDENIZ UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND DISEASE)0000-0003-0329-6778
Hüseyin Uğur Bakan(Tokat Forensic Medicine Directorate)0000-0002-4650-8411
Betül Keskin(AKDENIZ UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND DISEASE)0000-0001-7024-1131
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-06-30
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Although there is a detailed article on gender reassignment in the Turkish Civil Code, the importance of the collaboration of medical and legal professionals regarding the difficulties experienced in practice is one of the issues that should be remembered.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study compared the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of individuals presenting for gender reassignment with the literature data and to discuss the legal implications and problems experienced in the process of gender reassignment.
📊
Key Findings & Data:The sociodemographic and clinical data were examined of 111 individuals who were referred to the Forensic Medicine Department of Akdeniz University Medical Faculty from the judicial authorities with a request for gender reassignment in the period (2015-2021).
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Conclusion & Impact:Although there is a detailed article on gender reassignment in the Turkish Civil Code, the importance of the collaboration of medical and legal professionals regarding the difficulties experienced in practice is one of the issues that should be remembered.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:2015-2021 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Gender reassignment · trans-sexuality · forensic psychiatry

Abstract

This study compared the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of individuals presenting for gender reassignment with the literature data and to discuss the legal implications and problems experienced in the process of gender reassignment. The sociodemographic and clinical data were examined of 111 individuals who were referred to the Forensic Medicine Department of Akdeniz University Medical Faculty from the judicial authorities with a request for gender reassignment in the period (2015-2021). A total of 111 cases were evaluated, with the number of referrals increasing annually. Trans-males (biological sex female) constituted 64.0% (n=71) of the sample, while trans-females accounted for 36.0% (n=40). The majority of the cases (73.0%, n=81) were in the 18-29 age group. The forensic process was found to start at an earlier age for trans-males compared to trans-females (p=0.001). Notably, trans-females had a significantly higher rate of undergoing gender reassignment surgery prior to receiving an official healthcare institution report (72.5%, n=29) compared to trans-males (31.0%, n=22) (p<0.001). When the sensitivity of the subject and the rights of the individual to a private life are considered, it is important to increase the medical, ethical, and legal knowledge levels of healthcare professionals dealing with the needs and requests of individuals requesting gender reassignment. Although there is a detailed article on gender reassignment in the Turkish Civil Code, the importance of the collaboration of medical and legal professionals regarding the difficulties experienced in practice is one of the issues that should be remembered.

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Cite This Article

Atılgan, M., Demircin, S., Kılınç, O., Özgönül, M. L., Erdoğan, A., Bakan, H. U., Keskin, B. (2026). Forensic-Medical Evaluation of Individuals Presenting for Gender Reassignment in Southern Türkiye: A Retrospective Study (2015–2021). Journal of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Volume: 43 Issue: 2. https://ajindex.com/articles/1422508

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