Help Survivors Access Preventative Treatments and Timely Care
Reviewing the medical care and forensic exam options with the survivor can be helpful because the choices may be overwhelming or confusing. The survivor’s decisions will depend on what is available in your area and what the survivor wants.
Survivors are often not aware of what sexual assault services are available and how to access them. Survivors may be uncertain that they require healthcare, even though the majority of sexual assaults do not result in physical injury. Survivors may also have misconceptions about what to expect when seeking care. For example, survivors may believe that they have no choice about what and how procedures are conducted if they consent to a forensic exam (BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre and Ending Violence Association of BC, 2023).
Providing survivors with accurate information about medical care and forensic exam options can help them access preventative treatments and timely care.
See this chart for a summary of information on medical care options and the forensic exam, including access, time limits, and duration.
