Authors: Ian Hunt, Emma Jenkinson / Editor: Bernadette Garrihy / Reviewer: Kathryn Blackmore, Emma Jenkinson, Georgia Pigott, Prita Banerjee / Codes: IP4, ObP4, SeC2, SeP4, SLO1, SLO2, SLO7 / Published: 20/09/2021
A 19-year-old student attends the Emergency Department (ED) (accompanied by a friend) and, at triage, complains of abdominal pain. She is seen by one of your SHOs, who notes that she seems distressed and wonders if there is an underlying, reason for her presentation. He asks to speak to her without her friend present and the patient discloses that she has been sexually assaulted earlier that evening.
The SHO appropriately seeks senior advice and is keen to ensure that this patient receives the best care possible.
On review, the patient is reticent but does engage and provide information. She reports that she was asleep in her bedroom and woke to find her housemate on top of her: on questioning she reports that he then had penetrative vaginal intercourse with her.
She is distressed and is reluctant for any police involvement, partly because she does not think she will be believed and partly because she is worried about what her friends and peers will think.
She does agree to police involvement and referral to the local Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). You inform the police, however the sergeant who attends the ED for initial review is quite sceptical and dismissive. Fortunately you are able to overcome this and emphasise the need for timely assessment at the SARC.
The patient agrees to attend the SARC and is transferred there by the police.
You spend time reflecting whether there are any investigations or treatments that you should have instigated in the interim and what you would have done had she declined police involvement.
Module Content
Sexual Assault Aftercare in the Emergency Department
This session outlines a standardised approach to providing care for a haemodynamically normal patient presenting following rape or sexual assault.
Sexual Assault Aftercare in the Emergency Department
This session outlines a standardised approach to providing care for a haemodynamically normal patient presenting following rape or sexual assault.
Information Sharing to Tackle Community Violence
This session describes the processes around Information Sharing to Tackle Community Violence. It also describes some of the responsibilities of emergency clinicians around confidentiality when looking after victims of violence.
82 Comments
Useful
could be longer
Usefull info as, fortunately, not a very common presentation.
A great guide and knowledge resource for something that every ED Physician should have at their fingertips.
Good guide thank you
good concise guide , very helpful
Good quicky, would be worth for a full e-learning session
very useful scenario for any one working in ER
This is very useful and unfortunately not often taught!
v usefull info
Useful reminder on an unpopular presentation in the ED
Useful reminder of points to remember in sexual assault
Good guide for the ED
useful in ED
Nice review
I have learned lots from this topic, thank you.
Great review of a difficult subject to tackle in the ED
helpful summary
useful to read and understand
Good but more detail would have been helpful
Good but more information would have been helpful
great article
very useful
Very interesting – not come across this as an ACP but as a Charge Nurse in my young day!! very sad but that the realitic these days which is so shocking in today’s social. Always tread this carefully, if this a female, should ideally be a female doctor, if male then should be male – might make the whole systemic enquiry easier
Good guide thanks
Very helpful
Useful brief module on an important topic.
Really useful thanks
Nice and quick!
SARC IS DIFFERENT FROM POLICE .ROLE OF ED WELL EXPLAINED
Excellent and important topic
useful thanks
Good precise info
Very useful topic
useful, practical & simple to follow
useful tips to manage sexual assault in ED
very helpful overview thanks
Good learning, would be worth a full learning session
Really useful thanks
Very succint , very informative / useful
very concise and useful for EM.
Really concise up to date guidance. Thank you
Good update
WELL DISCUSSED
very relevant and concise guide.
Nice review
good information and very helpful
good review
very helful and frequently missed topic
Good Summary of required knowledge for dealing with this group of patients.
Clear and concise information. Thanks
Valuable information
A good concise summary on one of the darkest topics in the curriculum.
VERY USEFUL, CLEAR, AND TO THE POINT.
Very good info and concise for ED
Very useful and one every ED doctor should know.
Sad topic, but good and concise information.
Good concise module on a reasonably rare presentation
Useful review, especially that SARC can be anonymous.
not common presentation in ED – useful for SARC
Important topic to be aware of as a more senior clinician – especially rules to supersede consent & points of ensuring the integrity of Chain of evidence – otherwise making it inadmissible in court etc.
Much needed information, if not known, you will end up referring to various specialties and they will have no clue
Useful revision of fairly common ED presentation. Luckily police / FME help is usually available.
Good case
useful
Concise with salient learning points. Thank you
Concise and very helpful. Thanks.
Concise guide, Educative
Useful
Good session, thank you
good quick reminder
Helpful.
Useful concepts.
Useful and concise guide to the topic
Useful and concise guide to the topic
Clear guidance as to what to do with a similar presentation
good one
Concise and useful module esp the antibiotic regime.
good
A very useful module for ED physicians thanks
very useful guideline
excellent
Useful
Good Revision