• Cites loss of public trust in legal system of which forensic medicine is an integral part

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) stated that the Ministry of Health should make a clear explanation on the incident of Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) Dr. Ruhul Haq continuing to hold office despite a suspension imposed by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), claiming that the loss of public trust in the field of forensic medicine has a major impact on the country’s legal system.

While the suspension imposed by the SLMC is to come to an end on 20 August, 2023, Haq was found to have been practising as a JMO and performed the postmortems of businessman Dinesh Schaffter, and Hamdi Faslin who died on 28 July while receiving treatment at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH) due to an infection following a kidney surgery. Both these deaths are shrouded in controversy and the postmortem findings by Haq have drawn criticism.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (8), the Media Spokesman of the GMOA, Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said that a prompt investigation must be conducted into the matter. 

“The Ministry has stated that it would investigate this matter. That investigation should be conducted promptly, and its findings should be disclosed to the public. All concerns such as the reason for him to be suspended, why that decision was not implemented, who authorised it, and how Haq was paid a salary, should be looked into. Immediate action must be taken in this regard.”

He also said that people losing trust in forensic medicine may lead to various negative consequences, as it is a field which is linked with several other important fields. “Forensic medicine is one of the most important components of the field of medicine. It is linked to several parties such as the Judiciary, the Police, the Government Analyst's Department, and the civil society. Forensic medicine has an unavoidable legal aspect. It has helped to uncover crimes that could have been swept under the carpet. Therefore, if the public lose their trust in this field, it will have a significant impact on the country's legal system.”

Following the revelation of Haq continuing to practise despite the SLMC imposed suspension, several concerned parties have questioned as to how he continues to hold office. Against this backdrop, the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr. Asela Gunawardena recently said that the Public Service Commission (PSC) had been informed of the matter, and that the Ministry was awaiting its response to decide on disciplinary action that should be taken against him, while the Ministry has assured a Ministerial-level inquiry regarding the same.

Allegations of preparing postmortem reports with contradictory findings with regard to the deaths of Schaffter and Faslin have been levelled against Haq. Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya had even ordered the Borella Police not to continue with the investigations regarding Faslin's death based solely on his (Haq) reports as contradictions and obscurities in his reports had been confirmed during previous Court proceedings.