2 sexual abuse victims refuse medical test by male docs at UP hosp

Pilibhit: Two sexual assault victims -- aged 25 and 26 -- brought in by police on Tuesday morning declined to undergo tests after learning that only male doctors were available at the govt facility.

A staff at the hospital said that despite the presence of a female doctor on duty, the medico-legal procedure was being handled by two male doctors, prompting the victims to withhold their consent.

It also came to light that the district women's hospital has only one female doctor on "24-hour duty as per the present roster" and two male doctors for medico-legal procedures of assault victims. Notably, as per the directive issued by then UP chief secretary dated Dec 6, 2022, all female doctors at autonomous state medical colleges (ASMC) in 14 districts of the state "are supposed to carry out duties related to medico-legal procedures and other health matters".

Taking serious note of the "case of negligence at the hospital", the district magistrate has sought an official explanation from chief medical superintendent Dr Rajesh Kumar and instructed Pilibhit chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Alok Kumar.

CMO Kumar said, "I met the ASMC principal on Tuesday regarding the duty roster of ASMC doctors in compliance with the DM's instructions. I'm hopeful that the desired procedure will be implemented soon."

The women's hospital comes under ASMC and a recent probe on "frequent lapses" had made some shocking revelations.

Only recently, a 5-year-old girl who had been sexually assaulted was made to wait for over 10 hours for a medical examination at the same facility even as she lay on a chair writhing in agony.