Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/2098
Full metadata record
DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributor.authorEdirisinghe, P.A.S.en_US
dc.contributor.authorKitulwatte, I.D.G.en_US
dc.contributor.authorShihanada, A.A.S.en_US
dc.contributor.authorBulathsinhala, B.A.A.R.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2014-10-29T09:32:59Z
dc.date.available2014-10-29T09:32:59Z
dc.date.issued2011en_US
dc.identifier.citationThe Medico-Legal Journal of Sri Lanka. 2011; 1(1): 20-26en_US
dc.identifier.issn2012-5887(Print)en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/2098
dc.description.abstractINTRODUCTION: A medico-legal examination is an important step in the legal system where initiation of giving justice to the victim begins. Giving 'Justice' is a process where many stake holders are involved. An undue delay in the system is considered as justice denied as well as draining of the value of the judgment. OBJECTIVE: to find out the time frames of the medico-legal examinations, reporting, and giving oral evidence in a court of law and recommend measures to improve the existing system. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study was conducted based on case records maintained by first and second authors for past ten years. The information was gathered on a proforma to fulfill the objectives. The data was analyzed using version 16 of SPSS statistical package. RESULTS: Out of 110 cases studied 78% of cases were on alleged sexual abuse. 52% belonged to the adolescent age group (12-18). 74% of cases were seen within 24hours of issue of MLEF but 5.5 % were seen after 7 days. 56(51%) cases examined did not receive summons/request from a relevant authority indicating that either the cases were settled with the police or no further investigations carried out. Response to summons/request for MLR was good (80% were sent within 3 months). Mean time taken to summon/request a report by the relevant authority was 17 months, while mean time to receive a summons from the High Court was 50.6 months (4.2 years). The mean time taken to give medical evidence was 62.5 months (5.2 years) from the day of the examination. CONCLUSION: There was no delay in initiation of medico-legal examination. Responding to summons was satisfactory. However, the mean period of 1.4 years in requesting the report and period of 5 years in high court proceedings need serious considerations.
dc.publisherCollege of Forensic Pathologists of Sri Lankaen_US
dc.titleJustice delayed-justice denied: a study on time intervals of medico-legal examinations, reporting and giving evidence in cases of alleged child abuse victimsen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
dc.identifier.departmentForensic Medicineen_US
dc.creator.corporateauthorCollege of Forensic Pathologists of Sri Lankaen_US
Appears in Collections:Journal/Magazine Articles

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
medico legal-2011-20.pdf486.46 kBAdobe PDFView/Open


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.