A SCHOOL nurse told a jury it would be “unheard of” for a medical practitioner to carry out an intimate examination on a child without the protection of an agreed chaperone.
The woman, who has been a nurse for more than 37 years, was giving evidence on the third day of the trial of Damien Bible.
Bible, aged 26, of Gainsborough Avenue, Daubhill, is accused of carrying out an intimate swab test on a 15-year-old girl — in breach of medical procedures.
He was working as a Young Person’s Health Adviser at The Parallel health clinic for young people in Churchgate, Bolton, in January, 2007, when the incident is said to have happened.
The court heard Bible, who denies a charge of engaging a 15-year-old in sexual activity, carried out a swab test for chlamydia, which should have been carried out by a doctor in the presence of a chaperone.
The alleged victim was accompanied by two friends, also girls, at the time of the test.
Giving evidence yesterday, the alleged victim’s school nurse said she reported the incident to her manager when the girl told her about it.
When asked by Judge Timothy Clayton if the local health authority would sanction a 15-year-old girl acting as a chaperone, the nurse replied: “It would be absolutely unheard of.
“I have been a nurse for a long time and I have never, ever known or heard of anything like this before.
“It just doesn’t come into the equation that you would not have a chaperone there to protect you as a professional.”
The case continues.
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