Supreme Court Rules Misleading Medical Reports in Rape Cases Constitute Corruption
Summary
The Supreme Court has ruled that false or misleading medical reports in rape cases amount to corruption, convicting two doctors from Janakpur Zonal Hospital and reducing their sentence to three months each. It also barred virginity and two-finger tests, calling them unscientific and harmful to victims' dignity.
Key Points
- The Supreme Court convicted Dr. Rambha Goit and Dr. Vijaykumar Singh for submitting a false medical report in a rape case involving a 12-year-old girl.
- The court held that concealing physical facts in such reports is not professional opinion but a corrupt offense and an attempt to obstruct justice.
- It banned unscientific practices such as the virginity test and two-finger test in rape examinations and called for informed consent.
- The court directed the Ministry of Health to strengthen Nepal's medico-legal system through training, staffing, guidelines, and dedicated units.
