Sexual abuse cases where doctors abuse patients are seldom worldwide, as there are stringent ethics and standards in place by the health administration to prevent such incidents. Even in the Hippocratic Oath, which states the standards and ethics that all doctors should uphold, it clearly mentions, “I will enter to help the sick, and I will abstain from all intentional wrongdoing and harm; especially from abusing the bodies of men or women, bond or free. And whatsoever I shall see or hear in the course of my profession, as well as outside my profession in my intercourse with men.” Most doctors truly stand by the Hippocratic Oath, however, on August 22, a sexual abuse complaint was lodged at the Kohuwala Police station by a 22-year-old female patient against a doctor who is  allegedly examined her at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubowila. We find that this alleged incident did not only adversely damage the reputation of doctors all around the nation, but it also created a mistrust between doctors and patients.   
The health administration could have easily prevented this predicament. Their prime duty should not only be curing their patients, but also protecting them from harm. If the administration did follow the mandatory ethics -- one must uphold when examining a patient -- this incident could have easily been averted. 

protection of the patient is of the utmost importance : SLMA

A spokesman for the SLMC (Sri Lanka Medical Association) who elaborated on such medical ethics, said, “In the ‘SLMC instructions on serious professional misconduct of medical practitioners it clearly states that a patient must be chaperoned by a nurse or a family member or trusted friend when the doctor is of the opposite sex of the patient. This guideline is extremely important, especially when considering sensitive examinations such as in the breast, genital and rectal areas of a patient. Further, a circular had been sent by the Ministry of Health to all hospitals regarding this ethic. This condition is mandatory because we believe the protection of the patient is of the utmost importance.”  
If this condition was fulfilled, the patient would have been easily protected.

There should have been a chaperone in this case : Director Kalubowila Hospital

We asked the Director of the Kalubowila Hospital, Dr .Asela Gunawardena whether the patient had a nurse or another trusted party chaperoning her, “ There are no nurses in the forensic department of the hospital,” he said, “ You never find nurses in that department even around the world because they deal with dead bodies. However, there should have been a chaperone in this case. The mother of the patient was there, but she was sent outside while the examination was carried out. This is where it all went wrong. The mother shouldn’t have been sent outside, because if she was not, this incident would have been easily prevented.” The Director also speaking on the finer details of this case said, “A police investigation on this case is being conducted by the Director of Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital. This investigation began subsequent to the complaint made by the victim to the Kohuwala Police. The hospital will not partake in the investigation, because there is a tendency for the hospital to be biased towards the case. Therefore, from an objective point of view, the police and the health ministry are involved in the investigation. I have already submitted a report in regard to this case, and the health ministry will begin their preliminary investigation most probably next week. We have not still confirmed whether the victim was sexually abused or not, as the preliminary investigation of the case has not taken place. However, it should be noted that the doctor who allegedly abused the girl is not an employee of the Colombo South Teaching Hospital,  Kaulubowila. 
We enquired, why the girl was referred to the hospital, what exactly was her illness or injury, “The girl was initially admitted to SJ’Pura General Hospital on the grounds of assault -- either sexual or physical -- by a different party. But, the SJ’Pura GH does not have a Consultant JMO and therefore, she was referred to Kalubowila. Our JMO, thereafter examined her to see if they could corroborate her injuries with assault. A senior registrar who was under the Supervision of the Consultant JMO examined her, and on August 22, she lodged a complaint to the Director of the SJ’Pura GH, stating that she was allegedly sexually abused by this particular doctor. The senior registrar is currently confined at the SJ’Pura forensic science unit as per instruction given by the Director General of Health Services, until investigations are completed. Hence, he is not allowed to practise at Kalubowila until the departmental inquiries are concluded.”

Minister wants the report with haste : 
Media secretary of the Minister

Media secretary of the Minister of Health, Mr. Nipun Ekanayake said, “Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Seneratne ordered the Director of Health Services, Dr. P.G. Mahipala to conduct an investigation immediately. Dr. Mahipala is directing the investigation with the department and the hospital. The Health Minister wants the report with haste, as we then could determine if the allegations 
were true or not.” 

Doctor is not officially part of the ministry  : Director of Health Services

Dr. Mahipala said, “On the same day itself, we asked the Director to submit a report. This particular doctor belongs to the University of Sri J’Pura. He is part of the professorial ward and therefore is not officially part of the ministry of health. As now we have stopped conducting investigations in the hospital, we are determined to publish a report with the proceedings of this case soon

Though a Doctor, not a GMOA member : GMOA

Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Assistant Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge, said,“I contacted the GMOA branch secretary of Kalubowila and he said that since this doctor is attached to the professional unit of Kalubowila and is thereby officially attached to the Sj’Pura University and therefore not a member of the hospital team, as such doctors are not usually GMOA members. They are attached to the university and they are usually part of the university union.  In this case, I am notsure whether this doctor is an university union member or a GMOA member, nevertheless, the doctor in question has not complained to the GMOA at Kalubowila, and according to the branch union, they said on August 30, the Director of the Kalubowila Hospital, Dr. Gunawardena has given an interim report to the Director General of Health Services about this issue. “As far as the GMOA is concerned, we would support any investigations regarding this case, and we will do justice to the patient and help them reveal the truth,” he said