Kerala doctors suspended after they refused to examine a 5-year-old who was sexually abused

As per a report filed by District Collector, R Girija, the doctors made the child and the police wait for six hours without carrying out an examination.

news Medical Negligence

Two doctors of a government hospital in Pathanamthitta district has been suspended on Saturday after they refused to examine a five-year-old child who was sexually abused.

Doctors, MC Ganga and Lekha of Kozhancherry district hospital had allegedly refused to examine the girl who was brought by policemen of Koyipram station. As per a report filed by District Collector, R Girija, the doctors made the child and the police wait for six hours without carrying out an examination. Following which, Health Minister K K Shylaja has asked the health secretary to take appropriate action against the doctors.

POCSO special court public prosecutor Hansalah Muhammed told the media that a case can be registered under IPC 166A and 166B (Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person).

“Under POCSO section 26 also this is an offence. This offence can get a punishment of six months to two years. Police have approached me asking legal advice in this case,” he told Manorama News.

Some of the human rights activists had held a press conference on Thursday, in which they alleged that doctors made the child wait from 2pm to 8pm on September 15.

“They lied that they don’t know how to examine a five-year-old child. Even though police and the child’s relatives were with the child, they misbehaved,” alleged one of the activists in the press meet.

Police had arrested one autorickshaw driver Reji for abusing the child in September.