MUMBAI: A forensic medicine professor from Wardha has sought the removal of the controversial ‘virginity’ or ‘two-finger’ test from medical textbooks, stating that it lacks any scientific authenticity and future doctors shouldn’t be taught this.In a report submitted to Medical Council of India (MCI), Dr Indrajit Khandekar said the test, which can be psychologically devastating for women, continues to be perceived as a clinical tool by virtue of being taught in medical schools, and therefore in certain instances has even been ordered by courts to decide cases. The doctor’s letter, based on a study of nearly 30 MBBS and forensic medicine postgraduation textbooks, has also been sent to the Union health ministry on December 26.The report stated the textbooks not just vividly taught students about virginity and techniques of hymen inspection for size or tears, but also spoke of “false” and “true virgins.” Interestingly, while volumes were devoted to teaching female virginity, there was hardly any mention of male virginity in any textbook, Khandekar’s letter said.“Numerous studies have shown the inspection of hymen cannot give conclusive evidence of vaginal penetration or any sexual history. In fact, abnormal hymenal features such as laceration or an enlarged opening are found in females with or without a history of sexual activity. Yet our textbooks continue to teach future doctors about this unscientific test,” said Dr Khandekar, who teachers at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sewagram. He medical students continue to be asked questions about virginity in exams. “Till it stays in the curriculum, textbooks will devote chapters on this and students will continue to learn and perhaps practice when asked to perform such a test by the police or courts,” said the forensic expert.The SC had in 2013 banned use of the two-finger test on rape victims. Maharashtra was one of the first states to implement the ban and change medico-legal proformas. Recently, the state introduced genderintegrated modules in five disciplines. The Centre for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes (CEHAT), along with the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), worked on the modules across five disciplines, including forensic medicine, to bring in gender perspective in medical education. “These changes have started to reflect in textbooks taught in Maharashtra. But it needs to change across India,” said Padma Deosthali of CEHAT.