Tamil Nadu: Panel stresses on Doctor's role in POCSO cases

Tiruchy: A recent programme organised in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchy district on Child Sexual Abuse and POCSO Act observed that doctors are less equipped to deal with POCSO cases even though they are the first ones to report such cases.

The joint session was organised by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Tiruchy Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society, and the Indian Council Against Child Neglect, Child Abuse and Child Labour (ICANCL) and saw the presence of around seven medical experts from around the state who talked about the role of medical professionals in handling POCSO Act cases.

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The panel led a discussion on the importance of raising awareness about child sexual abuse and they discussed the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders under the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Dr Mousumi Sen, Head of the Department of Forensic Medicine at CMC, Vellore, said, "Forensic reporting is very important in POCSO Act cases. Doctors should know how to handle the court and the police. Instead of being hesitant, they should know what exactly is demanded from their end."

She added, "Doctors should look out for signs of sexual abuse based on the symptoms. Repeated constipation, anal fissure, and sleeplessness in boys and girls are few of the many symptoms that need further probing as we have 53% of children being affected by sexual abuse in the country."

According to Srividhya, Legal cum probation officer, District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), doctors play a very important role as they are responsible for identifying child sexual abuse, providing first aid, managing medical issues, taking care of the child's mental health and providing long-term follow-up.

Srividhya also detailed the steps to be followed while assessing the child, engaging a support person, acquiring a social investigation report, using prosecution methods, compensating and rehabilitating victims, appointing a prosecutor, the role of the special court and monitoring mechanisms, and so on. The panellists further talked about the need to report abuse in any form without fear and hesitation. They stated that child sexual harassment cases go unreported due to reasons like social stigma and parents' diffidence, reports the Hindu.

Dr Sathya Raj, Professor, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry unit, CMC Vellore, as per a media report in The New Indian Express said, "India is home to 19% of children in the world. However, in child sexual abuse (CSA) cases only 18% are reported, implying what we have is just the tip of the iceberg; 95% of CSA is perpetrated by family members and relatives. The CSA happening amongst boys is overlooked, and there needs to be sensitisation on it."

According to Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Tiruchi district reported nearly 1,300 child abuse cases between January and September, with more than 15 POCSO cases being reported every month from the district.

A. Thangavel, member of ICANCL and assistant professor of paediatrics, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital, Tiruchi moderated the discussion, which also saw the presence of N. Raghavan, president of IAP, Tiruchi; Malathy G. Prasad, president of TRIOGS and R. Mohan, president of IMA, Tiruchi.

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