Draft manual for docs bans word rape,two-finger test

In the first detailed manual for medical examination of rape victims,the Health Ministry has advised doctors not to use the word rape as it is not a medical diagnosis but a legal definition.

It has also asked them not to identify a victim as habituated to sexual intercourse as this amounts to unlawful interference in her privacy and therefore a violation of her human rights. Rape is not a medical diagnosis,it is legal definition. Hence word rape should not be used while forwarding opinion8230; Even he/she should not depose on the same issue. Do not identify victim as habituated to sexual intercourse on the basis of findings of finger test as it is unlawful interference with her privacy and unlawful attacks on her honour and reputation and is violation of her human rights, says the manual.

It will also mentions that in the prosecution proceedings for sexual assaults,prior sexual experience is irrelevant as the issue at hand is consent or lack of it. The manual also forbids the use of the two-finger test on the same ground.

This is the first time the Department of Health Research has attempted to draw up a comprehensive manual for examination of victims of sexual crimes in consultation with experts and framed guidelines on what the conclusions should be for a given set of observations.

It has now invited public comments on the draft.