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Doctor asked under duress to sign blank document
A case where a medical officer was allegedly assaulted and received death threats when he refused to sign a blank document produced by two men allegedly from the Biyagama Police, has prompted heath authorities and the police to carry out a full investigation.

Dr. Kamal Witarana, medical officer-in-charge of the Udupila Government Hospital and a Judicial Medical Officer was allegedly assaulted and threatened last week by two men claiming they were from the Biyagama police station.

They had arrived at his official quarters at around 3:45 a.m. and handed him a medical-legal examination form (MLEF) and asked for it to be filled according to their dictates and even offered a bribe which Dr. Witarana refused. They had then allegedly threatened and tried to snatch his official files which contained MLEF forms. Dr.Witarana had to fight them off and managed to escape with a dislocated left arm and a tattered file. Before leaving his residence the men had allegedly pointed a gun at him and threatened him not to leave his house till the next day.

“It is clear that to have a MLEF with them they had either to be from the police or they had taken it with the knowledge of a particular police station,” he said.

Necessary action has to be taken in order to safeguard doctors, specially those who work in peripheral hospitals, he said. Deputy Director of Health Services, Gampaha, Dr. Linton Padmasiri said “The medical officer has told me about this incident and I am still waiting for an official written complaint. Once I get it an inquiry will be conducted by the police .”

Dr.Witarana is reported to have posted his statement to Dr. Padmasiri and is waiting for an inquiry to be held.

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