NEW DELHI: A year after Nirbhaya's gang-rape case, has the medical response to such cases got any better? As TOI investigated this, we came across shocking revelations on a number of rape cases reported at one single hospital in the last two years.
Safdarjung Hospital, where Nirbhaya was admitted, treated 310 rape survivors in two years, from December 2011 to December 2013. Of this, 24 were minors less than 10 years. There were at least 169 patients of the age group of 11-20 years and 117 rape survivors who were aged 20 and above.
According to Dr B D Athani, the medical superintendent of Safdarjung, at least three patients suffered from severe physical injury similar to Nirbhaya. "Calling them rape victims is an oversimplification of their suffering. We found in most cases, there was a combination of physical and sexual assault. The victims had to be referred to a team of specialists," Dr Athani said.
The hospital claims to have put in place dedicated staff for attending to such emergencies. "The rape victims are received in the Gynaecology Receiving Room (GRR). After initial investigation and tests, they are referred to the departments There were at least 169 patients of the age group of 11-20 years for further treatment.Psychiatric counselling of the victim and family members is stressed upon," said the medical superintendent of Safdarjung hospital.
As per a Delhi HC order issued in April 2009, government hospitals need to have special rooms for victims to be examined and sexual assault evidence collection kit. Dr M C Misra, director of AIIMS said they have put in place all the infrastructure for treatment and collection of evidence. Activists claim that the facilities are not available across hospitals and in some cases the doctors are unaware of the protocol.
"There is lack of clarity on issues such as whether or not to use finger test for assessment of injuries, use of force if any, noting any discharge and gathering of sample among others," said Raj Mangal Prasad, ,director of NGO Pratidhi.
Dr Sudhir Gupta, head of the forensic sciences department at AIIMS, added, "There is an urgent need to develop a national or protocol on collection of forensic evidence in such cases. Inaccurate documentation, sampling and labelling can lead to loss of crucial evidence." TOI
Safdarjung Hospital, where Nirbhaya was admitted, treated 310 rape survivors in two years, from December 2011 to December 2013. Of this, 24 were minors less than 10 years. There were at least 169 patients of the age group of 11-20 years and 117 rape survivors who were aged 20 and above.
According to Dr B D Athani, the medical superintendent of Safdarjung, at least three patients suffered from severe physical injury similar to Nirbhaya. "Calling them rape victims is an oversimplification of their suffering. We found in most cases, there was a combination of physical and sexual assault. The victims had to be referred to a team of specialists," Dr Athani said.
The hospital claims to have put in place dedicated staff for attending to such emergencies. "The rape victims are received in the Gynaecology Receiving Room (GRR). After initial investigation and tests, they are referred to the departments There were at least 169 patients of the age group of 11-20 years for further treatment.Psychiatric counselling of the victim and family members is stressed upon," said the medical superintendent of Safdarjung hospital.
As per a Delhi HC order issued in April 2009, government hospitals need to have special rooms for victims to be examined and sexual assault evidence collection kit. Dr M C Misra, director of AIIMS said they have put in place all the infrastructure for treatment and collection of evidence. Activists claim that the facilities are not available across hospitals and in some cases the doctors are unaware of the protocol.
"There is lack of clarity on issues such as whether or not to use finger test for assessment of injuries, use of force if any, noting any discharge and gathering of sample among others," said Raj Mangal Prasad, ,director of NGO Pratidhi.
Dr Sudhir Gupta, head of the forensic sciences department at AIIMS, added, "There is an urgent need to develop a national or protocol on collection of forensic evidence in such cases. Inaccurate documentation, sampling and labelling can lead to loss of crucial evidence." TOI
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