Colwyn Harding, the man who alleged that he was sodomized by a constable at the Timehri Police Station sometime in November last; did not tell medical practitioners at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) that a baton was pushed up his anus.This was disclosed yesterday during a press conference at the hospital with Chief Executive officer, Michael Khan, Senior Registrar in surgery, Dr. Navin Rambarran, Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr. Sheik Amir and Supervisor of the Male Surgical ward Keith Alonzo.From left is Senior Registrar in surgery, Dr. Navin Rambarran, followed by Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr. Sheik Amir, CEO, Michael Khan and Supervisor for the Male Surgical ward Keith Alonzo.The hospital officials said that they only learnt about the alleged rape after it was reported in the media. “He never told us that he was raped. Up to this morning (yesterday) we met with him and he said nothing to us,” Dr. Amir noted.According to the officials, Harding was taken to the hospital’s Outpatient’s Department on December 13, and was diagnosed with hernia.He was then referred to the surgical clinic. On December 17, last at around 22:35 he was rushed to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit after complaining of experiencing severe pain, vomiting and an increased swelling to the area.It was there that Harding was diagnosed with strangulated inguinal scrotal hernia. He underwent the first surgery on December 18 and a second surgery was done on December 27.Strangulated inguinal scrotal hernia, according to Dr. Amir is very common in Guyana. He said that he dealt with many patients who were diagnosed with that problem.An inguinal hernia is a bulge that occurs in the groin region. It occurs because of a weakening of the muscles in the lower abdomen.“This is where the bowel comes down to the scrotum sack and goes up back. Any contraction of the abdominal wall increases the pressure within the abdomen and usually cause the hernia to come down,” Dr. Amir explained.Meanwhile, from his hospital bed yesterday, Harding said he did not tell doctors about his sexual assault because he was ashamed and embarrassed. However, persons are now questioning why Harding would report his attack to the media and not to his doctors.“We are treating him. We are the ones he needs to tell about his injury. He said he was embarrassed. How can he be embarrassed to tell us and not the media who would inform the entire Guyana?” a source stressed.Harding on his hospital’s bed.Dr. Amir added that, “You are coming here with an emergency condition, nobody told us anything, and why would we assume that this happened. This is not a normal thing that we will look for. If he had brought it to us then we would have checked.”“It is now almost one month since Harding alleged that he was raped and the possibility of doctors finding any bruises to the anus is “very thin.”In a recorded interview with this newspaper last Wednesday, Sharon Harding, the young man’s mother had related that her son was first rushed to the hospital on December 13, 2013 after he had collapsed at the Camp Street Prisons.She said that he was examined and on account of what was discovered, the young man was given a date to return for surgery. He was returned to the Prison but before scheduled surgery date, her son was again rushed back to the hospital for emergency attention.“According to the Prisons, he started vomiting green stuff for like three days straight and some Cadet officer went and checked on him and said ‘No, no, no y’all gotta get this boy to the hospital now, now, now. Y’all gotta come.’ That’s when he did surgery,” she related.“I spoke to the doctor after I got the call and he said, um, the intestine was ruptured but apart from that,Cheap NFL Jerseys co, he said it was rotten”.Meanwhile, Michael Khan said that reports made that the hospital was unable to provide colostomy bags and needed medication was not true.“A preview of his chart shows that whatever he needed was given to him. Everything was available and given to him and we must understand that if the ward does not have it, it can be obtained in the other wards,” Khan stressed.An investigation has been launched and the rank who was accused of committing the act is under close arrest. |