Comprehensive Approach to Address Sexual Offences: Insights from Dr. P. B. Gujaral
Dr. P. B. Gujaral, a Senior Consultant in Forensic Medicine, highlights the significant impact of sexual offences, emphasizing the need for a thorough medico-legal examination and comprehensive care for survivors. He discusses the existing protocols, identifying fatal mistakes, and the evolution of the Kerala Medico-legal Protocol for Examination of Survivors of Sexual Offences. Through structured courses of action, including training workshops and feedback mechanisms, he aims to enhance awareness and adherence to proper procedures among healthcare professionals.
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Dr. P. B. Gujaral Senior Consultant in Forensic Medicine and District Police Surgeon, Palakkad, Kerala & President, Kerala Medico-legal Society.
Sexual Offences. Sexual Offences . The most henous of all crimes against humanity. From medical point of view it is trauma both physical and psychological. More than 99% of victims are women and children. This target group needs to be identified. The health system has the responsibility to address the issue of caring survivors.
The Law has provided for The Law has provided for everything everything Rich package of punishment to the guilty Complete medico-legal examination of the survivor. Intimation to the Law enforcing agencies. Comprehensive medico-legal examination including identification of findings and collection of material evidence Comprehensive medical care for physical and psychological trauma.
Many protocols are available, but . Fatal mistakes with regard to consent and intimation Deficiencies with regard to the requirement of Law in relation to history taking, opinion part etc. Not completely helpful to doctors in recording the findings. Allied examinations and consultations not listed. Opinion part is not clearly defined in accordance with the definition of medical evidence.
Kerala Medico-legal Protocol for Examination of Survivor of Sexual Offences 2015 In partial amendment to Kerala Medico-legal Code 2011 Errors in relation to consent, intimation etc rectified. History and findings in accordance with the existing legal provisions Allied examinations and consultations listed. Opinion clearly defined.
Course of action Course of action Stage I Published in the website and organized state level TOT and district level workshops for doctors from Government hospitals. In the first stage, use of format insisted in selected institutions. Suggestions obtained after use of format for one year. Quality of reports made Child Rights Commission, Law Courts and police officers to demand reporting in the format prescribed by the Protocol. Stage I
Course of action Course of action Stage II Feedback obtained from five institutions. Another state level TOT was organized which was followed by training programs to doctors in all districts and at State Health and Family Welfare Institute, Thiruvananthapuram and Regional Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Kozhikkode. Training programs to doctors in all sectors were also organized with the cooperation of organizations like IMA, KGMOA etc Stage II
Course of action Course of action Stage II The Protocol was introduced to Judicial Officers, Investigating Police Officers and Prosecutors across the state. Training programs were organized to Police Officers and Prosecutors Copies of the Protocol in sufficient numbers were made available to all districts with a direction to print the same on exhaustion of the supplied stock. A SAFE kit produced by KMCL was supplied to all major institutions with a direction to obtain the same on exhaustion of the supplied stock. Stage II
Outcome The quality of medico-legal reporting of survivors of sexual offences improved to a great extent over the last one year. This fact is evidenced by the insistence of the IPOs and Courts on preparing the report in the format prescribed by the Protocol. The quality of care to survivors of sexual offences also improved to a great extent. The awareness created among doctors ensured safety from adverse legal actions.
