KOLKATA: Medical experts on Tuesday questioned the police move to slap rape charges on Pinki Pramanik after the former Asian Games gold medallist was declared a male on the basis of a DNA test report.
Pinki's medical report, they pointed out, says that the athlete suffers from Disorder of Sexual Development (DSD). A DSD patient, say experts, cannot be termed a male - despite an XY chromosome combination, as Pinki's DNA report has confirmed-because such
patients are incapable of
performing a sexual act.Pinki's medical report, they pointed out, says that the athlete suffers from Disorder of Sexual Development (DSD). A DSD patient, say experts, cannot be termed a male - despite an XY chromosome combination, as Pinki's DNA report has confirmed-because such
It would be unfair to accuse Pinki of rape, said genetic medicine expert Kaushik Mondol, a member of the medical panel investigating the case. "Even though the report says Pinki is chromosomally a male, it doesn't conclude that Pinki is a man... it says the athlete suffers from DSD. DSD patients can't be identified as men," said Mondol, adding they were incapable of penetrative sex.
Gynaecologist Gautam Khastagir said, "Pinki probably has an underdeveloped phallus, an internal testis but doesn't have a vagina or uterus. It makes Pinki a male pseudo-hermophrodite, not a man. Her aggression can be attributed to male hormones and her chromosome, but her sexual identity remains ambiguous."
But the cops say Pinki had blood flow in certain tissues enabling her to have an erection. "It (report) says Pinki is not a female...it also indicates Pinki is capable of performing a male sexual act, even if partially... enough to make her capable of attempting rape. You need not penetrate a woman to rape her," an investigating officer said. Pinki's counsel said the report was just a medical opinion, not the final verdict.
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