Curbing violence: Doctors urged to ensure rights to detainees

Speakers say though there is no torture-specific legislation, the constitution prohibits it.

HARIPUR:

The rights of detainees are often ignored during criminal proceedings and doctors must ensure that their rights are protected. This was the crux of a sensitisation session on “Role of medical practitioners in prevention against torture,” which was coordinated by Human Development Organisation (HDO) on Wednesday.

Dr Zakim Khan, the medical superintendant of Haripur District Headquarters Hospital, said professionalism demands that doctors accord priority to the people brought for medical examination without taking into account their social-economic and moral status.

He suggested that a working relationship should be established between the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Department and HDO for rehabilitation of torture and violence victims.

Meanwhile, another speaker pointed out that some doctors avoid documenting the physical and mental torture that law-enforcement agencies inflict on the victims during detention. He further said medical evidences were prerequisite for taking the torturers to task, but it is only possible when the proper documentation of torture is carried out at public sector hospitals.

Speakers said though the country has no torture-specific legislation, yet Article 14 (2) of the Constitution, section 337-K of the Pakistan Penal Code and Police Order prohibit torture. They observed that medical practitioners are equally responsible of ensuring respect to the legal obligations.

In her presentation, HDO Psychologist Zil-e-Huma briefed the participants on the approaches being used by HDO for rehabilitation of torture and violence victims.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2012.