What is a medical forensic exam?
We like to say that the medical forensic exam consists of seven parts:
Informed consent: The consent process is your authorization for us to treat your body. As a patient, this empowers you as the patient to reclaim control of your circumstances and surroundings and allow what happens to your body.
History: This includes your medical history and the history of the event to bring you in for the exam. Our goal is for you to feel safe, unjudged, and at ease to share this sensitive information. We obtain this information in a calm, quiet environment at your own pace.
Head to Toe Physical Exam: This is our time together to evaluate your body from your head to your feet, assessing for physical injuries, medical ailments, and areas that may be a source for DNA collection.
Ano-genital Exam: With the utmost respect of your privacy, here we assess your genitalia region to evaluate for injury, infection, and any source for DNA collection.
Evidence Collection: This exam serves as evidence, as well as any physical evidence collection. Physical evidence collection includes but is not limited to: Sexual assault kit, clothing, toxicology testing, non-genital and ano-genital photography, as well as Strangulation Kits. Not every part of the evidence collection is pertinent to your scenario. Our highly specialized nursing staff will aide you in this process to determine what is the best plan of care for your individualized needs.
STI Testing and Prophylaxis: We offer testing for sexually transmitted infections, as well as pregnancy. Together we make a plan of which medications you feel best suits your medical needs and risk factors associated with what has happened.
Safety Planning and Discharge: The nurse and advocates will work together to ensure you will be safe after leaving. If safety is an issue or concern, we can assist to find resources to ensure who can start to heal in safe environment.