| Questions |
Answers |
| How long will I be at the hospital? |
Sexual assault victims have priority after life-threatening cases in the emergency room. If you have endured a long wait, it is okay to ask to be seen more quickly. The evidence exam (rape kit) takes approximately 1 to 2 hours, but you may be at the hospital anywhere from two to five hours. |
| I feel afraid and alone; can someone stay with me? |
Yes, the Foothills Alliance offers free crisis support (volunteer advocates) to all sexual assault victims in Anderson and Oconee County. An advocate will be called when you arrive at the hospital. They are available to provide emotional support and information about the exam. |
| Do I have to wait in the waiting room? |
Most hospitals will provide a private place for you to wait. |
| Will I be examined by a doctor/nurse of the opposite sex? |
You can request a physician/nurse of the same sex. However, this may not always be possible, or it may take additional time. |
| Can the advocate stay with me during the medical exam? |
Yes, an advocate can stay with you if you wish. It is your choice. |
| What sort of questions will I be asked? |
The medical staff will ask about the circumstances of the assault to provide you with the best possible medical care and check for injuries of which you might not be aware. Please tell the doctor of any pain, injuries, or bruises you may have.
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| What will happen during the medical exam? |
The doctor/nurse will check for external injuries, such as bruises and cuts.
An internal exam will be performed to check for internal injuries. For women, the exam will include a pelvic examination to insure that their vagina has not been injured.
Even if you decide not to have the evidence exam (see below), it is important for you to have a medical exam. |
| What is the purpose of the evidence examination? |
The evidence exam differs from a medical exam. It is a legal, not medical, procedure administered by a doctor/nurse. If you decide to press charges, the evidence collected now will be presented during the trial. If you are not sure about pressing charges, it is still very important to have the exam so that evidence is not lost. If you are absolutely certain that you will not press charges, there is no need for the evidence exam. |
| What sort of evidence is collected? |
The evidence exam will collect any foreign hairs, dirt, debris, saliva, semen, and skin that may have been left on your body as a result of the assault. Do not bathe, shower, douche, eat, drink or brush your teeth before the exam. It is possible for evidence to become lost if you do any of these activities. It is also important that all of the clothing you were wearing before and after the assault is given to law enforcement for evidence. |
| How is the evidence collected? |
- Your clothing will be placed in a paper bag and taken to a crime lab.
- Your head and pubic hair will be combed for evidence.
- Several samples of your head and pubic hair will be pulled.
- Your fingernails may be scraped underneath for evidence.
- Your mouth will be swabbed for a saliva sample.
- The doctor/nurse, while examining you internally, will swab your anus (if an anal assault occurred) and vagina to check for semen.
It is important to show the doctor/nurse and painful areas, injuries, or bruises so that they can be documented by taking pictures.
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| What happens to the evidence? |
The evidence is sent to a crime lab where it will be tested and analyzed. The crime lab technician will then present the analysis results at the trial. You will not know the results of the evidence exam while you are in the emergency room. |
| Will I be tested for pregnancy? STD's? HIV/AIDS? |
- Blood will be tested for sexually transmitted diseases.
- Urine will be tested for internal injuries and pregnancy.
- An AIDS test will be administered upon your request (not mandatory but recommended).
NOTE: These tests determine whether a STD, pregnancy, and/or HIV/AIDS existed before you were assaulted. Follow up tests at a later date are necessary to determine if you developed these conditions as a result of the assault.
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| I am worried that I am pregnant. Can they give me something to prevent pregnancy? |
The "Morning After Treatment" (MAT) is available at some hospitals. The doctor or nurse can explain the procedure as well as the risks and side effects. The MAT must be administered to you during the first 72 hours after the assault. This procedure does not terminate a pregnancy, it simply prevents a pregnancy from occurring. |
