When does the medical examination take place for a child who has been sexually abused? How is a medical examination supposed to be done?

When does the medical examination take place? How is a medical examination supposed to be done?

Section 27 of The Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act, 2012 along with section 164A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 lays out the guidelines for the medical examination of a child. A child has to be examined for legal purposes by a registered medical practitioner within twenty-four hours of receiving the information about the offence. The child can be examined even if an FIR has not been registered.

• The child should be okay with getting examined and she must be examined within 24 hours.
• The doctor who examines the child should make a report with complete details and conclusions, and also record the exact time at which the medical examination had started.
• A woman doctor has to examine a child, if it is a girl.
• The parent or any other person the child trusts must be around when the doctor is examining the child.
• If no one is available, then the hospital in-charge has to appoint someone who will be around during the examination.