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TW: sexual violence
Date: 01.10.2021
On September 9, Harmukh, a Flight Lieutenant from the Indian Air Force, reportedly raped an IAF officer in Coimbatore. According to the FIR, Harmukh had contacted two of the survivor’s friends after assaulting her, and they recorded his confession to the crime. Despite this traumatic experience, the officers reportedly urged the survivor to “either file a complaint or give in writing that what had happened was consensual and there was no complaint to make.”
She ultimately decided to file an FIR, and the wing commanders sent her to the Air Force Hospital for her medical examination. Even here, the doctors exhibited profound unprofessionalism. The survivor reports that the doctors “watched and re-watched the video confession of the accused and asked about her sexual history”. They had to be reminded that they were not supposed to demand evidence from the examinee.
According to the survivor, the doctors conducted the two-finger examination - a method proven to be highly unscientific and invasive. The Supreme Court of India had even banned it in 2013! The survivor reports that she had to “relive the trauma” of the assault upon being subjected to this test.
That’s not all: the doctors even delayed submitting the report to the authorities. This is extremely unethical of the medical practitioners! Conducting an illegal internal exam is nothing short of an assault.
We demand that the Air Force Hospital, Coimbatore:
Immediately suspend the two irresponsible doctors while the investigation is ongoing.
Mandate sensitisation workshops for all health staff on conducting medical examinations with care as per the ‘Guidelines & Protocols Medico-legal care for survivors/victims of Sexual Violence’.
We also demand that the Tamil Nadu branch of the Indian Medical Association, under the presidency of Dr P Ramakrishnan, investigate whether the two-finger test is routinely conducted on sexual assault survivors at Air Force Hospital, Coimbatore.
We need your help to demand accountability and preventive measures from the hospital. Let’s show them that we refuse to accept the gross violation of ethics, the survivor’s consent and even the law - sign the petition!
Sources:
Tamil Nadu: IAF takes custody of officer accused of rape; woman said pressure from seniors - The Indian Express
IAF officer alleges she was subjected to two-finger test. What does Supreme Court say? - Hindustan Times
NCW takes cognisance of reports about IAF officer being subjected to banned test - Hindustan Times
Scroll down to sign the petition
TW: sexual violence
Date: 01.10.2021
On September 9, Harmukh, a Flight Lieutenant from the Indian Air Force, reportedly raped an IAF officer in Coimbatore. According to the FIR, Harmukh had contacted two of the survivor’s friends after assaulting her, and they recorded his confession to the crime. Despite this traumatic experience, the officers reportedly urged the survivor to “either file a complaint or give in writing that what had happened was consensual and there was no complaint to make.”
She ultimately decided to file an FIR, and the wing commanders sent her to the Air Force Hospital for her medical examination. Even here, the doctors exhibited profound unprofessionalism. The survivor reports that the doctors “watched and re-watched the video confession of the accused and asked about her sexual history”. They had to be reminded that they were not supposed to demand evidence from the examinee.
According to the survivor, the doctors conducted the two-finger examination - a method proven to be highly unscientific and invasive. The Supreme Court of India had even banned it in 2013! The survivor reports that she had to “relive the trauma” of the assault upon being subjected to this test.
That’s not all: the doctors even delayed submitting the report to the authorities. This is extremely unethical of the medical practitioners! Conducting an illegal internal exam is nothing short of an assault.
We demand that the Air Force Hospital, Coimbatore:
Immediately suspend the two irresponsible doctors while the investigation is ongoing.
Mandate sensitisation workshops for all health staff on conducting medical examinations with care as per the ‘Guidelines & Protocols Medico-legal care for survivors/victims of Sexual Violence’.
We also demand that the Tamil Nadu branch of the Indian Medical Association, under the presidency of Dr P Ramakrishnan, investigate whether the two-finger test is routinely conducted on sexual assault survivors at Air Force Hospital, Coimbatore.
We need your help to demand accountability and preventive measures from the hospital. Let’s show them that we refuse to accept the gross violation of ethics, the survivor’s consent and even the law - sign the petition!
Sources:
Tamil Nadu: IAF takes custody of officer accused of rape; woman said pressure from seniors - The Indian Express
IAF officer alleges she was subjected to two-finger test. What does Supreme Court say? - Hindustan Times
NCW takes cognisance of reports about IAF officer being subjected to banned test - Hindustan Times
Thank you for standing against the unethical and illegal two-finger examination. Do share this petition further to build pressure on the Air Force Hospital to listen to your demands!
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