Forensic experts' drug raid role get support<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Forensic experts who assisted police in recent
\ndrug raids at popular night spots were not acting against the
\ndoctors' code of conduct, according to noted expert Mun'im Idris.<\/p>\n
Mun'im said the presence of forensic personnel was to prevent
\npolice officers from arresting the wrong suspects.<\/p>\n
But their participation has come under fire from fellow
\ndoctors, Mun'im, from the state-run Cipto Mangunkusumo General
\nHospital, told The Jakarta Post Friday.<\/p>\n
Some doctors believe that members of their profession should
\nnot be involved in the raids or disclose information from the
\nmedical examination of an alleged drug abuser to the police, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"What should be underlined here is that the principle of
\nforensic medicine is somewhat different from other medical
\nfields,\" Mun'im said.<\/p>\n
\"Forensic experts are not required to keep information on
\ntheir subjects from the police or any other parties.\"<\/p>\n
They can tell people what they have or have not found in the
\ncourse of their examination of a patient, he said.<\/p>\n
\"They can even disclose the information to the press as long
\nas it will not adversely affect the police investigation and the
\nsuspect.\"<\/p>\n
Mun'im guaranteed that the process of examination and taking
\nof urine samples from alleged drug users followed the same
\nmethodology used in daily forensics.<\/p>\n
\"The result of the urine testing is accurate,\" he said. \"The
\nurine test kit has a 90 percent accuracy.\"<\/p>\n
A separate kit was used to examine each urine sample and
\npinpoint whether the suspect had taken amphetamines, cocaine,
\nopium or marijuana, he said.<\/p>\n
The police had earlier faced difficulties when arresting drug
\nusers because the law forbid them from arresting anyone unless
\nthere was strong evidence.<\/p>\n
Now police only need urine samples to nail alleged drug users,
\nfollowing the introduction of the 1997 Psychotropic Law Number 5,
\nMun'im said.<\/p>\n
\"During the raids, urine samples are obtained only from those
\nwho have certain symptoms or physical reactions which normally
\noccur after taking certain kinds of drugs.\"<\/p>\n
The symptoms vary from one drugs to another, according to
\nMun'im who participated in the police raids with a team of his
\ncolleagues.<\/p>\n
Tell-tale signs of a narcotic user include small pupils and a
\nslower pulse and breathing rate, he said.<\/p>\n
Psychotropic drug users commonly display the opposite
\nsymptoms, including dilated irises, increased pulse rate and a
\ncold sweat, he said.<\/p>\n
The participation of forensic experts had yielded positive
\nresults for the police in their fight against drugs, he said.<\/p>\n
In the latest raids Friday, the forensic team helped police
\ncatch three alleged drug dealers and 46 alleged drug users. (cst)<\/p>",
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