1. The current legal definition of rape in England and Wales is restricted to the following non-consensual act(s): a) Penetration of the vagina by penis only. b) Penetration of female…
Immediate needs after sexual assault include safety and privacy in the first instance, followed by treatment of injuries and prevention of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency…
The examination of the rape victim should focus on the therapeutic, forensic and psychological needs of the individual patient. One aspect will be an examination for ano-genital injuries. From a…
The acute care and examination of a victim of sexual violence must be carried out by a competent forensic examiner in a setting appropriate for crisis intervention, forensic evidence collection,…
The accurate description and interpretation of non-genital injuries may be crucial in cases of alleged sexual assault, and may be important in corroborating a victim’s statement of events. In many…
Complainants of sexual assault may disclose to different agencies, the police and health professionals being the most likely. It is possible for certain evidence types to be collected before a…
For the clinician managing a woman who has been violated sexually, core values of compassion, understanding and concern for the woman’s distress are essential. The nature of the violation itself…
Sexual Assault Centres provide multidisciplinary care for men and women who have experienced sexual crime. These centres enable provision of medical, forensic, psychological support and follow-up care, even if patients…
Under-reporting by male victims is more pronounced than for females victims, and so male victims remain a rarity for most sexual assault aftercare service providers. In this chapter, I present…
Sexual violence is an important issue worldwide and can have long-lasting and devastating consequences. In this chapter, we outline the psychological reactions to serious sexual assault and rape, including development…
