Medical Concerns
Medical Concerns
Receiving immediate and follow-up medical attention is one of the most
important things that you can do for yourself if you have been
sexually-assaulted. You may have injuries that need to be treated, and you
may want to be tested for pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
(STDs).
Your local Rape Crisis Center will have information about local hospital
procedures. A friend, relative, or advocate from your local Rape Crisis
Center can accompany you to the hospital.
You do not have to do this alone!
You are encouraged to go to an emergency room. The most important reason
to do this is to check for injuries. Shock, and general aches and pains from the
assault may be difficult to distinguish from a serious injury. Although it will
not be easy, an exam may help set your mind at ease. You will also be given
important information about STDs and pregnancy.
If it is determined by a health care professional that the assault took place
during a high risk time for pregnancy, you may want to ask your doctor or
nurse about the "morning after pill." This treatment is a high dose of estrogen
that has proven effective as a prophylactic if taken within 72 hours of the
assault. Your doctor or nurse will be able to discuss the risks and benefits of
such a treatment. The hospital may also give you antibiotics for hepatitis B,
gonorrhea, and syphilis. Base-line tests for pregnancy and some STDs may be
completed. These tests will only tell you if you were infected or pregnant
before the assault.
Another important reason to receive immediate medical attention is to collect
physical evidence for a criminal investigation. A hospital emergency room is
the only place to do this. Emergency room staff can perform a Rape Kit
Exam. This is a standardized exam and a series of lab tests that are designed to
collect physical evidence for use in the prosecution of rape (Criminal Sexual
Conduct) cases. Your nurse or doctor can explain exactly what the test entails.
Every emergency room is required to offer the Rape Kit Exam if the assault
happened within the previous 72 hours. Evidence is best collected within 6
hours of the assault. You are not required to have the Kit completed.
Will I need to make a police report?
The hospital is required by law to report the rape to the police. Having a Rape
Kit completed does not mean that you have to talk to the police. You can
choose to not speak to the officers. If you are currently unsure about
participating in criminal prosecution, having the Rape Kit completed will help
keep your options open. You may feel differently in a few months than you do
right now.
Who pays for the hospital visit?
Your private insurance plan should pay for the cost of the Rape Kit and
medical treatment. If you are uninsured (or do not want to use your parent's
insurance), you should be able to work out a payment plan with the hospital.
Most emergency rooms have a policy to not turn anyone away because they
cannot pay. You may qualify to have the cost of the Rape Kit reimbursed
through the Crime Victim's Compensation Board. See the page 16 of this
handbook for more information.
"Rape Drugs"
Some assailants may use drugs (Roofies, GHB, Special K)
to physically control their victim and render them defenseless. If you believe
that you were drugged, inform your doctor. Blood or urine tests may detect
the drug in your system. Testing should be done as soon as possible, because
some drugs can only be detected within twelve hours of ingestion.
What about a private doctor?
Although you may feel more comfortable with your family doctor, he or she
will not be available twenty-four hours a day, and will most likely send you to
the hospital anyway to have the Rape Kit Exam completed. Private doctors do
not have access to the Kit. The hospital that treats you after the assault can
send your discharge information to your private doctor and you can complete
your follow up care with her or him.
It is still very important to receive medical attention. You may want to have
pregnancy and STD tests taken. Although a Rape Kit can be performed at any
time, the chances of collecting evidence decrease significantly when more then
a few days have gone by. However, you can still report the crime to the police
and prosecution is still possible.
Follow-up Medical Care
Follow-up care is vitally important. Any sexually transmitted disease that you
may have contracted from the offender will not show up until later. A
follow-up test for pregnancy is also recommended. Even if you were given
medication just in case, it is very important that you be re-tested a few weeks
after the assault. A follow-up exam will also give you the opportunity to check
your injuries and discuss any new physical symptoms that may have developed
since the assault.
The hospital that treated you after the assault will have sent the hospital
discharge papers to your doctor or given you the option to return to the
hospital for a follow-up exam. The follow-up exam may bring back memories
of the assault. This may be difficult for you and you may want extra support
and counseling. If you are uninsured or have financial concerns, you can get
pregnancy and STD tests at a local Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood
will charge you based on your ability to pay.
Testing for STDs
You may want to keep track of STDs for which you have been tested. Ask your
doctor or nurse exactly which tests are being completed. It may take several
years for the symptoms of some STDs to show up. Information and testing
could potentially save your life. The table below contains information about
the 8 most common STDs. Ask your health care professional for more
information.
AIDS
Rape survivors are at a low risk for HIV infection; however, an HIV test may
help you feel more comfortable. Because the HIV virus has a window period
before blood levels are high enough to show up on a test, it is a good idea to
wait 3-6 months after the assault to be tested. Most county health departments
will have information about free, anonymous HIV testing. You can ask a
health professional or sexual assault counselor for more information.