THE Public Attorney’s Office has announced that its Forensics Laboratory Division can now screen and conduct Drug Dependency Examination after two of its physicians have been accredited and authorized following an extensive training initiated by the Department of Health.
PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta noted that while it would be an extra load to the already overwhelming tasks of its personnel particularly public attorneys and doctors, it would still be a welcome development as this would effectively hasten the proceeding of drug cases, among others.
She expressed gratitude to DOH’s Treatment and Rehabilitation Center-Bataan for its initiative to include PAO’s forensics unit in its Full Accreditation Training on Screening and Management of Persons Who Used Drugs held earlier this month involving two of its resident physicians, namely, Drs. Alexis Angelo Sulit and Eunice Anne Garcia.
Deputy Chief Public Attorney Erwin Erfe, concurrent division director, told Good Riddance that the DOH-accredited physicians (Sulit and Garcia) would help bridge the medical and legal aspects of drug-related cases by providing expert opinion through scientific, unbiased and evidence-based evaluations that guide both court proceedings and treatment decisions.
Prior to the DOH accreditation, Erfe said public attorneys who were attending on drug cases had to seek the services of other authorized drug centers for the drug dependency examinations of their clients.
Erfe cited the existing laws and also pursuant to PAO’s shared commitment with other concerned government agencies to promote justice, rehabilitation and proper medico-legal processes, “the newly available services aim to enhance accessibility and coordination in the management of drug-related cases.”
Sulit explained that the DDE is a comprehensive evaluation to determine the extent of drug use or dependency through medical, psychological and physical assessment.
“The findings would serve as official medico-legal evidence for court proceedings and rehabilitation referrals,” Sulit said.
Through PAO lawyers, it would also ensure that medical findings are properly interpreted in the legal process especially in cases where there is recommendation for involuntary rehabilitation by other agencies.
Moreover, Sulit said that the DOH-accredited physicians will make sure that within PAO, “the use, possession or distribution of illegal drugs is strictly prohibited.”
The adoption of the drug-free workplace policy is paramount in the duties of a DOH-accredited physician, Sulit pointed out
