title: Developing a policy for sexual assault examinations on incapacitated patients and patients unable to consent.
abstract: Sexual assault examinations consist of a medical evaluation and forensic evidence collection. Usually the patient signs a consent form allowing the examination to occur. Occasionally circumstances exist that render a patient unable to give consent for this examination. Such circumstances include young age, mental health disease, cognitive delay, or drug/alcohol ingestion. This article provides suggestions for developing a policy allowing a sexual assault examination to be conducted without patient consent. A sample of such a policy is provided.
authors.affiliation: Regions Hospital, St. Paul, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: Alda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Moettus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D053604:Forensic Nursing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016743:Mental Competency; D010808:Physical Examination; D011902:Rape / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014481:United States