Press Release | Slobodan Milosevic Freedom Center The Hague

The Hague, October 28, 2004

Dutch medical disciplinary board starts investigation against Dr. Van Dijkman

Mr. Nico Steijnen, member of the board of Slobodan Milosevic Freedom Center The Hague, received official confirmation yesterday from the secretary of the Regional Disciplinary Board of Healthcare in The Hague that an investigation against the physician Dr. Van Dijkman is about to begin. Dr. Van Dijkman is the cardiologist who was appointed by the Hague Tribunal to examine President Milosevic.

Milosevic filed the complaint against Dr. Van Dijkman earlier this month with the Dutch medical disciplinary board.

Dr. Van Dijkman is the author of a report supposedly based on a medical examination conducted last July. In his report he states that “Mr. Milosevic is not able to lead his own defense". Steijnen called this an astonishing assessment. “As a doctor he can express an opinion about the physical condition of President Milosevic, but not that he is unable lead his own defense,” Steijnen said.

According to Steijnen, Dr. Van Dijkman has issued an “inspired by the tribunal,” “unsound,” and “pseudo-medical” report. By acting like this he has made himself “co-responsible for the gross breach of the fundamental human rights of Mr. Milosevic,” Steijnen said.

The tribunal’s decision to impose a lawyer on President Milosevic was officially based on the report of Dr. Van Dijkman. The tribunal denied Milosevic’s request for a new examination by doctors of his own choice, from Greece, Serbia and Russia.

Dr. Van Dijkman has one month to present his written defense to the disciplinary board.
 

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