Forensic medical examination after sexual violence

• Verfasst von: Berger, Laura [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Tuschy, Benjamin [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Stefanovic, Stefan [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Yen, Kathrin [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Weiß, Christel [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Sütterlin, Marc [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Spaich, Saskia [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Berlit, Sebastian [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Forensic medical examination after sexual violence
• Titelzusatz: implications based on victims’ perceptions
• Verf.angabe: Laura Berger, Benjamin Tuschy, Stefan Stefanovic, Kathrin Yen, Christel Weiss, Marc Sütterlin, Saskia Spaich and Sebastian Berlit
• E-Jahr: 2023
• Jahr: March-April 2023
• Umfang: 10 S.
• Illustrationen: Illustrationen
• Fussnoten: Gesehen am 22.05.2024
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: In vivo
• Ort Quelle: Kapandriti, Attiki : IIAR, 2004
• Jahr Quelle: 2023
• Band/Heft Quelle: 37(2023), 2 vom: März/Apr., Seite 848-857
• ISSN Quelle: 1791-7549
• DOI: doi:10.21873/invivo.13152
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• Sach-SW: examination setting
• Sach-SW: forensic medical examination
• Sach-SW: perception
• Sach-SW: sex
• Sach-SW: Sexual assault
• Sach-SW: sexual violence
• K10plus-PPN: 188949383X

Abstract

Background/Aim: The objective of this study was to assess the perception of the forensic medical examination (FME) by victims of sexual violence. Based on patient-related outcomes gained in terms of personnel, chronological and spatial parameters, an additional aim was to derive improved examination procedures. Patients and Methods: A total of 49 sexually assaulted women were enrolled in this study. After standardized FME by a forensic doctor followed by a gynecologist, women were asked to complete a questionnaire addressing general perception, preferences regarding attending staff’s sex, sequence and time frame of the examinations performed. The attending gynecologist also completed a questionnaire addressing demographic and medical parameters of the patient as well as assault-related information. Results: The examination setting in general was evaluated positively. Nevertheless, 52% of examined victims perceived the FME as an additional psychological burden. Overall, 85% of the affected women preferred a female forensic physician and 76% a female gynecologist to perform the examination. When women said they experienced a violation of their privacy during the gynecological examination, a male was more often present (60% vs. 35%, p=0.0866). Regarding the sequence of the examination components, 65% of the victims preferred to start with their medical history followed by the forensic and then the gynecological examination. Conclusion: Forensic medical and gynecological examination after sexual assault is an essential procedure, yet it is a potentially further traumatizing experience for the victim. The identified patient preferences should be taken into account in order to diminish further trauma.