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DC Field | Value | Language |
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dc.contributor.author | Edirisinghe, P.A.S. | en_US |
dc.contributor.author | Kitulwatte, I.D.G. | en_US |
dc.contributor.author | Shihanada, A.A.S. | en_US |
dc.contributor.author | Bulathsinhala, B.A.A.R. | en_US |
dc.date.accessioned | 2014-10-29T09:32:59Z | |
dc.date.available | 2014-10-29T09:32:59Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2011 | en_US |
dc.identifier.citation | The Medico-Legal Journal of Sri Lanka. 2011; 1(1): 20-26 | en_US |
dc.identifier.issn | 2012-5887(Print) | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/2098 | |
dc.description.abstract | INTRODUCTION: 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.publisher | College of Forensic Pathologists of Sri Lanka | en_US |
dc.title | Justice delayed-justice denied: a study on time intervals of medico-legal examinations, reporting and giving evidence in cases of alleged child abuse victims | en_US |
dc.type | Article | en_US |
dc.identifier.department | Forensic Medicine | en_US |
dc.creator.corporateauthor | College of Forensic Pathologists of Sri Lanka | en_US |
Appears in Collections: | Journal/Magazine Articles |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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medico legal-2011-20.pdf | 486.46 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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