KUCHING – Procedures related to hospital examination for suspected rape victims need to be improved, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
She said taking into account the traumatic situation faced by rape victims, she hoped that the Health Ministry (MOH) would consider granting victims permission to undergo an examination at the hospital without lodging a police report first.
“Since the report and rape kit must be made within 72 hours, our recommendation is that the victim gets a medical examination first and then is left to decide whether to make a police report or not.
“We will leave it to MoH to decide (on this suggestion),” she said in a press conference in conjunction with the “Sepeda Amal Borneo 2023” charity programme here today.
Nancy said that the procedures for handling suspected rape cases currently state that a police report must be made first before the victim is allowed to undergo further examination.
“When the victim goes to the counter (at the hospital) they will be referred to police first, who then give permission to conduct a medical examination because they require evidence for the case,” she said.
She was commenting on a media report on July 8 about an individual who was allegedly dissatisfied with the services of the One-Stop Crisis Centre in Sarawak in handling the case of a woman suspected of being raped recently.
Following that, Sarawak health director Dr Ooi Choo Huck, in his statement, said that the woman refused to lodge a police report and did not give permission for further evaluation to be carried out despite being advised by the medical officer on duty.
Dr Ooi, said, however, after a discussion with an emergency physician on duty, the woman was sent to the OSCC, where the medical officer conducted a comprehensive examination, including examining her vital signs.
Nancy said the matter was a miscommunication between the victim and hospital and has been resolved, adding that she hoped such an incident will not recur. – Bernama, July 16, 2023
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