Rape is a trauma beyond anyone’s perception. Whatever an individual can feel for another, is but a small fraction of the whole. Most women have known the ugly taste of being either being victims of what may be regarded as simple eve teasing or the discomforting screening glances by strangers. The repulsive and nauseating feeling that your body is being looked at with temptation and sometimes with a desire to brush past, even if lightly is something most women have gone through. Rape is way beyond all of that. To face aggression of the sort, to be assaulted, to lose privacy of self and to be helpless to prevent it, can shake the psyche and confidence of a person like nothing else. No other injury has so much anguish, however severe it may be. The worst part is that it is the start of the trauma story. To register or not to register it, also takes all the guts of the victim. Registering it may start the legal process, but the process continues to be tortuous for the victim. The evidence of assault in such a case can disappear with delay in reporting the case or delay in examination of the victim by a doctor. The number of times a victim is expected to describe the incident is heart breaking. Each time she tells the story, she goes through it yet again. Her examination, which includes detailed examination of injuries on the body can make any victim think twice, thrice and more. The better and more detailed the examination, more evidence can be collected which can help a lawyer to fight the case better. To examine these injuries better, especially those on the vagina or around can be extremely painful for the victim. To not let someone hurt her in this way, spoils or weakens her case, is what she then faces. A swab or smear will be prepared which may be the ultimate proof of the crime and sometimes establish the identity of the accused. This again would feel like invasion of privacy and involve pain. All this if not done by someone trained to handle such a medico-legal case, will not yield substantial proof and the findings may remain inconclusive. A lot depends on the doctor who examines the case, as to how sensitive he or she is, how skilled and experienced he or she is in collecting evidence and observing evidence in terms of pattern of injuries and then how efficiently he or she can derive maximum conclusions and frame the opinion appropriately. A doctor who testifies in court also should be trained in the science and art of submitting evidence and stand cross examination. This also requires the doctor to be a person who is motivated to work and stand for justice to the best of his ability. The ordeal of the rape victim continues through all this with society, media, lawyers, police and each and every citizen of the country expressing their opinion and sometimes even playing a filthy blame game. This medico-legal case requires maximum expertise, empathy and patience from the health, judicial and police departments. If we can as humans and professionals, be more sensitive, we will at least do our part in easing the fight of the victim and providing support in a manner that makes a difference. Else the fight of the rape victim is a lonely battle unlike any other.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Monday, August 13, 2012
Meeting Dr Bernard Knight
I was to be in UK in July and I contacted Dr Bernard Knight on e mail to ask him if I could meet him. That is how it started and this is how I met him.
Dr Knight and Mrs Knight invited us for lunch at ‘New House Hotel’ in Cardiff. With Sat-Nav system in our taxi, it was easy to locate. The Sat-Nav system requires one to know the location code of a place. On feeding that in, a voice keeps directing you before each turn to turn at the right places. A highly convenient service. When we parked our taxi, at the destined place, ten minutes in advance, Dr Knight was already there, waiting for us! He walked upto us and asked, “Are you the guests I am waiting for?” I asked in reply, “Are you Dr Knight?” and he said, “Yes.” He was so very warm, humble and polite.
Dr Knight admitted that he loved farming and was more than content doing farming as his profession. Incidentally, he got into being a Laboratory Technician. In this chance profession, he met Mrs Knight, he lovingly calls Jean, who was also a Lab Technician. Then was a chance offer to join the Medicine course and then came specialisation in Pathology.
Once in the hotel, we made our introductions and sat down for lunch. Dr Knight is quite unassuming and very open in his comments, but is miles away from being critical or accusing. Mrs Knight took the responsibility to place the order for lunch at the Hotel. Dr Knight asked her to place the order for him. Either she knew exactly what to order for him or he ate what was ordered for him. Mrs Knight would place a question for us so openly if there was something that wasn’t clarified by our statement that we could not but appreciate her openness. She asked us why we were travelling in a tri-radiate way rather than in a circular continuous way. We had made London our base and we went to Stratford upon Avon one day and went back to London. The next day we had come to Cardiff and would go back to London. The next day again to Cheltenham and then back to London. Then was the plan to go to Scotland. Logically, all these places can be covered one after the other in a simpler way. We explained that we had our accommodation at London, which had been very comfortable and that getting accommodation at three different places would be cumbersome. Dr Knight, in all British culture and perhaps more, always opened the car door for his wife and once she was seated and comfortable, he would close the gate and then go to the driver’s seat. While on foot, when we crossed a road, Dr Knight’s attention and care would be around Mrs Knight. Mrs Knight would beam and smile pleasantly all the time.
The big name in Forensic Pathology I had gone to meet up was equally impressive as a ‘person.’ He had got his books as gift, a Forensic textbook and four other crime fiction books. While giving the books he mentioned almost apologetically that the books would make my baggage heavy and whether that would be inconvenient or impossible to handle! I could have removed other things from my baggage, if need be, but I was travelling light. I wanted to have his books from him but could not say so. I did not need to finally! That was sheer luck!
When I complimented him that his language in text books has a flow and as it remains simple and easy to understand, it is different from most other books which reflect the complexity of issues and do not attempt to simplify the concepts. He replied in his casual and down to earth way that perhaps writing crime fiction for general public kept his language simple and imparted to it a flow!
You meet Dr Knight and you know that his is a life worth lived, rising from being a farmer to becoming Forensic Pathologist of International repute with sure and certain steps, unhurried and steady. Realising that he could express better than people writing at that time, he took to writing. Ever since he continued to write. He admits to having a substantial fan mail. The book entitled ‘Forensic Pathology’ which I mentioned was a book I really liked, initiated a prompt response from both Mrs Knight and Dr Knight. Mrs Knight remembered that the book took the longest time, about 2 to 3 years of commitment and Dr Knight mentioned that it required lot of effort and compilation.
Dr Knight took us around Cardiff showing us the Cardiff castle, the colleges, Court, GE Aviation centre, etc It was a wonderful experience.
Dr Knight and Mrs Knight invited us for lunch at ‘New House Hotel’ in Cardiff. With Sat-Nav system in our taxi, it was easy to locate. The Sat-Nav system requires one to know the location code of a place. On feeding that in, a voice keeps directing you before each turn to turn at the right places. A highly convenient service. When we parked our taxi, at the destined place, ten minutes in advance, Dr Knight was already there, waiting for us! He walked upto us and asked, “Are you the guests I am waiting for?” I asked in reply, “Are you Dr Knight?” and he said, “Yes.” He was so very warm, humble and polite.
Dr Knight admitted that he loved farming and was more than content doing farming as his profession. Incidentally, he got into being a Laboratory Technician. In this chance profession, he met Mrs Knight, he lovingly calls Jean, who was also a Lab Technician. Then was a chance offer to join the Medicine course and then came specialisation in Pathology.
Once in the hotel, we made our introductions and sat down for lunch. Dr Knight is quite unassuming and very open in his comments, but is miles away from being critical or accusing. Mrs Knight took the responsibility to place the order for lunch at the Hotel. Dr Knight asked her to place the order for him. Either she knew exactly what to order for him or he ate what was ordered for him. Mrs Knight would place a question for us so openly if there was something that wasn’t clarified by our statement that we could not but appreciate her openness. She asked us why we were travelling in a tri-radiate way rather than in a circular continuous way. We had made London our base and we went to Stratford upon Avon one day and went back to London. The next day we had come to Cardiff and would go back to London. The next day again to Cheltenham and then back to London. Then was the plan to go to Scotland. Logically, all these places can be covered one after the other in a simpler way. We explained that we had our accommodation at London, which had been very comfortable and that getting accommodation at three different places would be cumbersome. Dr Knight, in all British culture and perhaps more, always opened the car door for his wife and once she was seated and comfortable, he would close the gate and then go to the driver’s seat. While on foot, when we crossed a road, Dr Knight’s attention and care would be around Mrs Knight. Mrs Knight would beam and smile pleasantly all the time.
The big name in Forensic Pathology I had gone to meet up was equally impressive as a ‘person.’ He had got his books as gift, a Forensic textbook and four other crime fiction books. While giving the books he mentioned almost apologetically that the books would make my baggage heavy and whether that would be inconvenient or impossible to handle! I could have removed other things from my baggage, if need be, but I was travelling light. I wanted to have his books from him but could not say so. I did not need to finally! That was sheer luck!
When I complimented him that his language in text books has a flow and as it remains simple and easy to understand, it is different from most other books which reflect the complexity of issues and do not attempt to simplify the concepts. He replied in his casual and down to earth way that perhaps writing crime fiction for general public kept his language simple and imparted to it a flow!
You meet Dr Knight and you know that his is a life worth lived, rising from being a farmer to becoming Forensic Pathologist of International repute with sure and certain steps, unhurried and steady. Realising that he could express better than people writing at that time, he took to writing. Ever since he continued to write. He admits to having a substantial fan mail. The book entitled ‘Forensic Pathology’ which I mentioned was a book I really liked, initiated a prompt response from both Mrs Knight and Dr Knight. Mrs Knight remembered that the book took the longest time, about 2 to 3 years of commitment and Dr Knight mentioned that it required lot of effort and compilation.
Dr Knight took us around Cardiff showing us the Cardiff castle, the colleges, Court, GE Aviation centre, etc It was a wonderful experience.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Conference IAFM Feb 2010
The national conference of IAFM was attended by about 330 delegates from all over the country.It was quite an event!! Some of the people I happened to meet after 10 years and some after 15 years. It was fun to catch up with all that has been happening in the field lately, all over the country. There were guest lectures and presentations from some of the big names in Forensic. That was a treat! We took the opportunity to discuss with them all that we thought needed expert appraisal and another outlook. Forensic Medicine is a relatively small community and so most of the people are close wnd well known to each other and bond well too. It was particularly nice to meet the post graduation students presenting their papers. The young feel very important making their presentation while one can see their teachers beaming with pride when they do well. This tradition of educating, passing information and experience and encouraging the youngsters to be academically oriented could be seen all around. There were lot of thoughts and ideas to grasp and appreciate and some of the memories will linger on for a long time to come.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Forensic Conference at Bhopal
We are finally having a conference at Bhopal from 6th to 8th Feburary, 2010! It is the annual conference of the Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine being jointly organized by the Gandhi Medical College and Medico legal Institute.A sea of experts would flood Bhopal and the deliberations would be a feast for all graduation and post graduation students in Forensic Medicine. Lot of effort has been put in to make it memorable and comfortable for all delegates. All of you who want to to be there ensure that you are there. Post your queries at forensicmediconbhopal@yahoo.com and forensicmediconbhopal@gmail.com
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