Turkey moves to reduce cesarean surgeries

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey's parliament has passed legislation to keep doctors from performing unnecessary cesarean births after the government claimed some doctors were seeking to earn more money by pushing women into unnecessary surgery with potentially serious consequences.

Parliament on Wednesday passed an amendment that allows C-sections "in case of medical emergencies." The measure needs approval of President Abdullah Gul to become law.

In May, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke out against cesarean births and likened abortion to "murder." His Islamic-rooted government says it is also working on bill to curb abortions despite an outcry from critics who say their plan amounts to a virtual ban.

The Parliament also banned smoking water pipes for those under 18 years old and restricted tobacco ads.