An expert in human rights law has expressed concern over the lack of informed consent to the medical procedure performed on the Australian women who were taken from a Qatar Airways flight bound for Australia. 

Australian politicians and diplomats are demanding urgent answers after female travellers were subjected to “disturbing and offensive” physical examinations in Qatar.

On Sunday media reports said that women on board a flight bound for Sydney, including 13 Australians, were forced to undergo invasive internal examinations earlier this month after a premature baby was found in an airport bathroom.

Associate Professor Marinella Marmo (PhD) from Flinders University in Adelaide said it was understood the women were “quite traumatised” by the experience and it was unlikely they gave their consent for the procedure.