Gurugram Child Sexual Assault: Max Hospital doctor denies changing medical opinion

New Delhi: In connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 4-year-old girl in Gurugram, the head of the paediatrics department at Max Healthcare, who was issued a show cause notice, has submitted her response to the Supreme Court of India, denying allegations that she changed her medical opinion under pressure.

In her affidavit, the doctor clearly stated that her medical findings have remained the same since the beginning and described claims of altering her report as "completely incorrect."

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that, highlighting the glaring insensitivity, sheer recklessness and irresponsible conduct of the authorities, the Supreme Court issued show-cause notices to Gurugram police Commissioner and other police officials involved in investigating the alleged sexual assault of a 4-year-old child.

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She stated, as per Live Law media report, "I have not changed my medical opinion in any manner. Any information given by any party in this regard is completely incorrect."

During an earlier hearing, the victim’s counsel had alleged that the doctor completely changed her opinion about one and a half months after the initial examination. He questioned what led the doctor to write a letter to the police later with different statements.

Taking note of this, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant had earlier made strong remarks and sought an explanation from the doctor.

The doctor told the Court that the child was brought to the hospital on February 2. After speaking to the mother and the child, she prepared a case sheet. As per the child’s statement, a domestic helper took her to a "dirty place" where a man kissed her cheeks, twisted her ears, and hit her on the stomach.

The doctor further stated in her affidavit that during the physical examination, no external injuries were found on the child’s body, and her private parts were found to be normal.

She also informed the Court that she had advised the parents to approach the police and register a medico-legal case. A few days later, a police officer recorded her statement based on the case sheet, which she signed.

Then, 47 days after the incident, two police officers again approached her for information. The doctor stated that she repeated the same details from memory as recorded earlier.

Meanwhile, the child’s parents have expressed dissatisfaction with the probe by the Haryana Police and demanded a probe by the CBI or an SIT.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had criticised the police handling of the case, calling it “shocking” and insensitive. The Court has now ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe and removed senior Gurugram police officials, including the police commissioner, from the investigation.

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