Health workers urged to report sexual abuse cases

By JACKLYN SIRIAS
MEDICAL officers have the right to report sexual abuse cases of minors to police, according to Chief Superintendent John Kolopen.
Kolopen, the director for Juvenile Justice, Lukautim Pikini Act and Family Protection Act, said so many children under 10 ended up in the hospital, including girls abused by their fathers or relatives.
He urged doctors and nurses to report such cases to police.
“Because most of those cases are not reported, the perpetrators think it is right for them to continue doing it,” he said.
“These are our children who are vulnerable and cannot seek justice for themselves. They need our help to report such indecent acts. They deserve to be taken care of,” he said.
“Medical officers have the right to identify the perpetrators and report them to the nearest police station.”
Meanwhile, the National Doctors’ Association said there was a law preventing health workers from reporting matters concerning patients.
Association president Dr James Naipao urged relatives and guardians to report such matters to police.
“There is law preventing us health workers to reveal our patients’ personal files and confidential files to outsiders – even to police,” he said.
According to the medical practitioner’s duty of confidentiality of the Journal of South Pacific Law published in 2004, the medical practitioners’ duty to maintain confidentiality arises from both statute and common law.
“Statutes can make it an offence to disclose patients’ information to a third party. In common law, the duty developed in cases where patients sued medical practitioners who allegedly disclosed confidential information without justification.”
He said there were other avenues available. “We have specific health care units that deal with specific health issues involving children.”