Sexual Assault
Characteristics
Common
· Assaulted by people they know
· At home/ someone’s house
· Non violent
· No injury sustained
o Average reported times 8 days post assault
· No one informed
· Alcohol involved
Management
· Ensure victim gives consent in every step of the way post assault
· Option to make police report or not
· Consent to get evidence (semen, DNA, ?injuries)
o ? Capacity to consent
o Ask who they wish to be present for both hx and ex
o Ensure privacy, calm and quiet
o Let them know what can or cannot be determined by examination
o Tell them “we cannot undo what happened, but from now on you have control over what happens to you”
o Specimen kept 3-6 months
o Resist pressure from others (family, police)
· Refer to counsellors
· DOCUMENT!
o Include name of everyone present at consult
o Verbatim, direct quotes
o Time and location of assault
o Scratch assailant (DNA under nails)
o Alcohol + drugs use?
o LMP? (assess pregnancy)
o Risk of STD
o PMHx/ PSgHx
· Examination
o State in non confrontational sites (face, arms, back hair)
o Document everything seen (old scars)
o Collect specimen
· Treatment
o Treat injuries
o Contraception
o Screen/ protect against STD (C+G, HIV)
o Arrange F/U (GP, sexual health, outpatients)
Source
A/Prof Amanda Dennis 2014
Common
· Assaulted by people they know
· At home/ someone’s house
· Non violent
· No injury sustained
o Average reported times 8 days post assault
· No one informed
· Alcohol involved
Management
· Ensure victim gives consent in every step of the way post assault
· Option to make police report or not
· Consent to get evidence (semen, DNA, ?injuries)
o ? Capacity to consent
o Ask who they wish to be present for both hx and ex
o Ensure privacy, calm and quiet
o Let them know what can or cannot be determined by examination
o Tell them “we cannot undo what happened, but from now on you have control over what happens to you”
o Specimen kept 3-6 months
o Resist pressure from others (family, police)
· Refer to counsellors
· DOCUMENT!
o Include name of everyone present at consult
o Verbatim, direct quotes
o Time and location of assault
o Scratch assailant (DNA under nails)
o Alcohol + drugs use?
o LMP? (assess pregnancy)
o Risk of STD
o PMHx/ PSgHx
· Examination
o State in non confrontational sites (face, arms, back hair)
o Document everything seen (old scars)
o Collect specimen
· Treatment
o Treat injuries
o Contraception
o Screen/ protect against STD (C+G, HIV)
o Arrange F/U (GP, sexual health, outpatients)
Source
A/Prof Amanda Dennis 2014