‘Victims of abuse should be aware of their rights in hospital’

‘No doctor can declare if a person has or has not been sexually assaulted’

November 28, 2014 01:29 am | Updated 01:29 am IST - CHENNAI:

The trauma for a rape victim is often compounded by insensitive responses from medical practitioners.

According to Sangeeta Rege of CEHAT, a research centre that works on public health, it is important for the victim to know that she has certain rights when she visits a hospital after the incident.

She was speaking at a public forum, ‘Healing the Hurt: Medical Care After Sexual Assault’, on Thursday, as part of the ‘Prajnya 16 Days Campaign Against Gender Violence 2014’. “Hospitals have the role of evidence collectors, and can determine whether a woman was indeed raped. This is problematic,” she said. “No doctor can declare a person has or has not been sexually assaulted,” said Ms. Rege.

She stressed the importance of the doctor getting informed consent from the victim before physical examination, the victim being allowed to voicing the option of not letting the police know immediately, demanding treatment straightaway, and obtaining a copy of the medico-legal report.

“Gender-sensitive examination is important. The victim should refuse to answer questions on her sexual history and the doctor should not note down the height and weight of the victim. Often, it is argued a woman may not be raped if she is heavier, insinuating she would have the physical stamina to fight back,” she said.

Additionally, the victim can say no to a two-finger test and should be administered emergency contraception and be tested for any sexually-transmitted diseases. 

A way to combat the insensitive handling of rape victims by doctors would be to bring about better textbooks at the MBBS level, said Ms. Rege. 

Rajani Jagtap of CEHAT, and Anuradha Kapoor of Swayam, Kolkata, a women’s rights organisation, also spoke.

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