Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations
The Examination Process > Triage and Intake > Contacting advocates
Contacting advocates
Contact an advocate, if not already done.For further discussion on contacting advocates, see A.2. Victim-Centered Care.)
Go to the Next Section: Triage and Intake > Safety concerns upon arrival of patients at the site
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- Goals of the Protocol
- Recommendations at a Glance
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Overarching Issues
- Coordinated Team Approach
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Victim-Centered Care
- Patient priorty as an emergency case
- Patient privacy
- Exam adapted to patients' needs and circumstances
- Issues commonly faced by patients from specific populations
- Importance of victim services within the exam process
- Importance of personal support persons in the exam room
- Requests for a responder of a specific gender
- Explanation of procedures during the exam process
- Integration of medical and forensic exam procedures
- Patient safety during the exam process
- Information patients can review at their conveniance
- Physical comfort needs of patients
- Informed Consent
- Confidentiality
- Reporting to Law Enforcement
- Payment for the Examination under VAWA
- Operational Issues
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The Examination Process
- Initial Contact
- Triage and Intake
- Documentation by Health Care Personnel
- The Medical Forensic History
- Photography
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Exam and Evidence Collection Procedures
- Forensic purpose of the exam
- Collecting as much evidence as possible
- Issues related to consent to sexual contact
- Testing of biological evidence
- Exposure to infectious materials and evidence contamination
- Importance of semen evidence
- Addressing patient needs' and concerns
- Explanation of exam and evidence collection procedures
- Conducting the exam and documenting findings
- Evidence to submit to the crime lab for analysis
- Other evidence
- Medical specimens separate from forensic specimins
- Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault
- STI Evaluation and Care
- Pregnancy Risk Evaluation and Care
- Discharge and Followup
- Examiner Court Appearances
- Appendix A. Developing Customized Protocols: Considerations for Jurisdictions
- Appendix B. Creation of Sexual Assault Response Teams
- Bibliography
- Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Technical Assistance Web Site
