title: Sexual assault.
abstract: Sexual assault is a problem that permeates all socioeconomic classes and impacts hundreds of thousands in the United States and millions worldwide. Most victims do not report the assault; those that do often present to an emergency department. Care must encompass the patients' physical and emotional needs. Providers must be cognizant regarding handling of evidence and possible legal ramifications. This article discusses the emergency medicine approach to history taking, physical examination, evidence collection, chain of custody, psychological and medical treatment, and appropriate follow-up. Special circumstances discussed include intimate partner violence, male examinations, pediatric examinations, suspect examinations, and drug-facilitated assaults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington Hospital Center and Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20010, USA. Heather.K.DeVore@Medstar.net
authors.forename: Heather K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: DeVore
authors.forename: Carolyn J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Sachs
mesh_terms: D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data