Clinical management of patients presenting following a sexual assault

Sexual assault is a common and distressing occurrence. The medical needs of individuals presenting in the immediate aftermath of an assault may be obvious: addressing injuries and distress and providing the option of a forensic medical exam. However, the initial assessment and response to a disclosure of sexual assault is an important opportunity to address medical, safety and psychosocial concerns.

The aim of this article is to discuss the practitioner's response to disclosures of recent sexual assault and the consequent legal, forensic and medical options. In particular, emergency contraception, sexually transmissible infections and management of injuries may be the patient's predominant concerns. Legal concerns, particularly relating to privacy and documentation, are also important in these cases.

Following a disclosure of recent sexual assault, a general practitioner may be juggling many concerns, both medical and legal. This article addresses some of these concerns and considers a medical response to a distressing situation in a way that minimises further trauma to the patient and the practitioner.