Negative social interpretation bias and suicidality: Indirect pathways through social anxiety and perceived burdensomeness.

Sexual offenses constitute one of the most severe forms of violence, violating both physical and psychological integrity, and their prevention requires not only punitive but also preventive strategies []. Data from the World Health Organization indicate that sexual violence represents a major global public health problem, particularly affecting women and children [, ]. In Turkey, the increasing trend in sexual crimes against bodily autonomy has prompted legislators and healthcare professionals to discuss alternative intervention strategies []. Among these strategies, medical (chemical) castration seeks to reduce the risk of reoffending by suppressing sexual urges through hormonal treatment []. Although this intervention is reversible, it directly affects reproductive capacity and hormonal balance, making it a subject of intense debate in the context of medical ethics, human rights, and the principle of voluntariness [, ]. In 2016, a regulation in Turkey—later suspended—introduced court-mandated medical castration for sexual offenders, thereby raising ethical concerns regarding physicians’ responsibilities, particularly urology specialists who would be directly involved in the procedure [, ]. However, studies examining these specialists’ knowledge and ethical attitudes toward the practice remain limited in the literature [].