Doctors ‘won’t be blamed’ for shortages

DOCTORS have reacted angrily to reports they are jeopardising the prosecution of rape and sexual assault trials by refusing to carry out vital forensic examinations.

Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) president, Dr James Reilly said that more GPs would work in this area but many did not believe they are either sufficiently trained or paid for such highly sensitive work.

A Sunday newspaper claimed yesterday that the Department of Justice was investigating a refusal by a significant number of GPs to carry out such tests after alleged rapes or sexual assault.

But, a spokesman for the department said yesterday that doctors were not being specifically investigated.

“The need to train more doctors is being examined as part of an overall inter-departmental examination of forensic medicine within the area of sexual assault,” she said.

Dr Reilly said that big improvements needed to be made in resourcing forensic examination as it was “terrible” that women were being forced to travel up to 100 miles to see properly trained personnel.

“This is wrong and should not be happening. However, there are very few GPs who feel they are well enough trained in the area and hence finding an available person is not always easy,” he said.

Sexual assault units operate in Dublin, Cork and Waterford, while the unit in Letterkenny requires more GPs trained in forensic examination.

“This is a highly fraught area as the examination results will play a large part in any possible criminal trial. Doctors do not feel comfortable getting involved unless they feel confident about their level of expertise,” Dr Reilly said.

He said that inadequate pay was also leading to a lack of people working in the area.

“If you want to fill a manpower shortage, you must pay people properly for being regularly on call.

“GPs refuse to be blamed for a failure of the Government to act in this area when a proper network of clinics and staff is not available for victims.”

Last week, the Rape Crisis Centre Network criticised the Department of Health for failure to prioritise funding for projects helping women who have been victims of violence.

“It is not seen as a major priority within the department and vulnerable women, who have already been through an ordeal, are being forced to suffer more by not having the help they need within a reasonable distance from their homes,” a spokeswoman said.