Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations
Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault
Recommendations at a glance for jurisdictions and responders to facilitate response in suspected drug-facilitated sexual assault:
- Educate examiners, 911 dispatchers, law enforcement representatives, prosecutors, judges, and advocates on issues related to drug-facilitated sexual assault. Develop policies to clarify first responders’ roles in cases involving suspected drug-facilitated assault.
- Be clear about the circumstances in which toxicology testing may be indicated. Routine testing is not recommended.
- Informed consent of patients to collect toxicology samples should be sought. Prior to giving consent, patients should be aware of the purposes and scope of testing, potential benefits and consequences, any followup treatment necessary, how they can obtain results, who will pay for testing, and if they have any opportunity to revoke consent to testing.
- With patients’ permission, immediately collect a urine specimen if patients may have been given drugs used for facilitating sexual assault within 96 hours prior to the exam. Also, collect a blood sample if these drugs may have been ingested within 24 hours of the exam. If a blood-alcohol level needs to be determined, collect a blood sample within 24 hours of alcohol ingestion, following jurisdictional policy.
- Identify toxicology laboratories.
- Make sure jurisdictional procedures are in place and followed for packaging, storing, and transferring these samples.
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