234.Furthermore, the Adviser on the Law and Legal Services of the Federal District is striving to increase the number of public
defenders in each of the Prosecution Service regional offices and agencies who are available 24 hours a day.
Ensure the impartiality of the work of medical professionals who are asked to provide an expert
opinion, and that medical examinations are carried out in accordance with the principle of doctorpatient confidentiality (para. 136)
Compliance measures
235.In the Federal District the Ministry of Health is responsible for ensuring the impartiality of the work of medical staff, that they are
called in by prosecution staff, and that medical examinations are conducted in accordance with the principle of doctor-patient
confidentiality.
236.This measure is carried out using via procedures and methodologies for reviewing and issuing medical certificates for detainees.
Specifically, forensic medical experts use the manual of procedures for forensic medical experts of the Ministry of Health of the
Government of the Federal District, authorized in February 2008, and the procedure for forensic examinations of physical integrity or
probable clinical age, published in the Official Gazette of the Federal District of 24 February 2009.
237.Both instruments provide that during the interview the examiner must check the medical history, current symptoms and any drug
intake, specifying the name of the drug, dose and schedule.
238.The physical examination is completed once the examiner has obtained the person’s informed consent. If any injuries are found, a
full and detailed description is required, noting shape, size, colour, borders, whether recent or not, and other features found.
239.The Forensic Medicine Unit of the Federal District has a standing group of supervisors, and medical staff have been trained to
improve the service they provide.
Have all persons detained by the police should be examined by a medical professional at the
earliest opportunity (para. 136)
Compliance measures
240.In the Federal District, by decision A/009/2008 the Attorney-General gave instructions for the psychological and physical
condition of persons to be certified and made available to public prosecutors.
241.Furthermore, official circular C/001/2010 laid down measures to ensure the security of persons held in the detention facility of
the agencies of the Prosecution Service.
242.When anyone is admitted to prison in the state of Jalisco, the facility’s medical unit produces a medical report and the
corresponding clinical history or admission study, regardless of any medical report that they enter with.
Include in all medical examinations of detainees a medical history and a description by the person
examined of any acts of violence to which they have been subjected, a record of current health
status, including the presence of any symptoms, the findings of the medical examination, in
particular a description of any injuries found and a note indicating whether the detainee’s entire
body was examined, and the doctor’s conclusions (para. 139)
Compliance measures
243.All medical examinations carried out in detention centres in the Federal District include a medical history and a description by the
person examined of any acts of violence to which they have been subjected; a record of current health status, including the presence
of any symptoms; the findings of the medical examination, in particular a description of any injuries found and a note indicating
whether the detainee’s entire body was examined; and the doctor’s conclusions regarding the consistency of the preceding three
elements.
244.To that end, as mentioned above, use is made of the manual of procedures for forensic medical experts of the Ministry of
Health of the Government of the Federal District , authorized in February 2008, and the procedure for forensic
examinations of physical integrity or probable clinical age.
245.Those documents indicate that in the interview conducted, the examiner must obtain a medical history, current symptoms and any
recent intake of drugs.The physical examination should be as complete as possible, while respecting the dignity of the person.Note
that the examination may be carried out only with the express consent of the person examined.
246.Where the person being examined is found to have injuries, the doctor is bound to describe them exhaustively, noting details such
as shape, size, colour, borders, whether recent, and any other features observed.
247.Note that the Forensic Medicine Unit attached to the Department of Forensic and Prison Medical Services of the Ministry of
Health of the Federal District has a standing group of supervisors, responsible for oversight of the forensic medical experts attached
to the Prosecution Service agencies of the Attorney-General’s Office. This unit provides regular in-service training for its staff so as to
provide a better service to users.
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