Volume 4
Number 2, July 2022Medicolegal Examination of an Alleged Rape Victim
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47648/zhswmcj.2022.v0402.09
Ali E1 , Islam MS2 , Tarafdar MA3
Abstract
Rape is a serious sexual offence having social, psychological, physical and legal aspects of the problem. Medicolegal aspects of examination of rape victims holds significant role in documentation and collection of available medicolegal evidence in order to corroborate accounts of sexual assault for courts of law and provide better care and justice to victims. This study outlines the significance of medicolegal aspects of examination of rape victims, broadly describing the protocols and procedures involved in the collection and processing of medicolegal evidence such as provision of medical examination, having a standard form issued by government for recording medical evidence in rape cases and form is to be used by all government and government designated health facilities for recording evidence for sexual assaults. In addition, some evidences should be recorded specifically for rape victims which are distinct from any other victims and according to the rule of High Court, only female forensic experts can perform rape victim examination as the test done by male forensic expert can be considered as the violation of privacy of the victim. A meticulous medical examination proper is an integral part of medicolegal examination of a rape victim. History-taking and recording with the signature of victim enable precise documentation and guides the examiner during the physical examination and the collection of trace evidence. Other investigations include microbiological examination, radiological examination, DNA analysis etc.
Keywords: Tuberculous Tenosynovitis Haematogenous Spread.
- Associate Professor & Head of the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
- Associate Professor & Head of the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
- Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine