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Investigation into forced birth control procedures at Dambulla Hospital
View(s):Birth control procedures at the Dambulla Base Hospital have been temporarily suspended after a doctor at the hospital was accused of forcing such procedures on mothers without their consent.   Central Province Health Services Director Dr. Shanthi Samarasinghe told the Sunday Times that she had sent a team to carry out a preliminary investigation into the matter.
Journalist Kanchana Kumara (second from left) comes to the Dambulla police station to make a statement
She said that she had first got to know about the matter through the media and said the procedures had been done for about two weeks.
She reiterated that certain medical preconditions had to be met when carrying out such birth control procedures. “While, receiving guidance and counselling from a doctor, it is also important to receive the consent of the mother to undergo the procedure,” she said.
After the completion of the investigation, if the allegations were proven to be true, necessary legal action would be taken against those who were responsible, she added.
She however, insisted no conclusions can be drawn until the completion of the preliminary investigations.  Dambulla Base Hospital, Medical Superintendent Dr. Charles Nugawela told the Sunday Times that the decision to suspend birth control procedures at the hospital was taken after several complaints were received against some of the contraceptive methods being used.
“The hospital has received written and verbal complaints. Investigations into the complaints are ongoing” he said.  The MS reiterated the contraceptive procedure -Immediate Postpartum IUD- had been temporarily suspend until the completion of the inquiry.
He said other family planning procedures would be undertaken only after written consent of the patient was obtained and at the request of the Medical Superintendent.
Meanwhile a doctor at the Dambulla hospital has lodged a police complaint against journalist Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa who initially exposed the story.
A statement by the journalist was recorded by the Police in Dambulla.