Irum Sohail, Muhammad Arshad.
Ethics in Examining Victims of Sexual Assault.
J Surg Pak Jan ;19(4):146-9.

Objective: To evaluate the application of medical ethics which is mandatory for examining the victims of sexual assault. Study design: Retrospective case review. Place & Duration of study: Emergency Department of Federal Government Services Hospital and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad, from January 2012 to December 2012. Methodology: It was a retrospective study in which there were 25 patients from one hospital and 51 from the other who reported with history of sexual assault. All patients presented to the emergency and accident department where they were attended by the medicolegal doctor on duty. The detailed analysis of the victim’s examination notes, consent form, findings and the opinion by the examining doctor were assessed. Results: Out of the total 76 cases, 17 (22.4%) were married and 59 (77.6 %) unmarried. There were 51 (67%) females and 25 (33%) males. The average age of these victims was 17.2 year. The average time of reporting was as early as 2 hours and as late as after 240 days. In only 6 (7%) cases the assailants were known to the victim. Ten victims had general body injuries. Amongst genital injuries, 64% had vaginal and 28% had anal injuries. On the final analysis of the victim’s record no written consent was available of the victims whose examination was done. Only two records showed the written consent of the victims who refused examination. None of the documents showed any proof of counseling the victim of the consequences of this examination. Similarly lot of emphasis was given on the integrity of the hymen rather than the associated trauma signs. Conclusion: Sexual assault is more common in both genders in younger group who are also unmarried. Most of these victims’ record was insufficient due to lack of professionalism and expertise in the field of forensic medicine.

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