Do You Need a Doctor in A Sex Abuse Case?

Sexual abuse crimes are some of the worst crimes out there. They result in immense physical and psychological pain for victims and can create trauma that lasts a lifetime. Some survivors of sex abuse find that one of the best ways to heal from their experience is through taking action against their abuser. 

To successfully convict someone for sex abuse, it’s helpful to have evidence. This is where a doctor may come in. Medical professionals are not only useful after sex abuse to help a victim heal from any physical injuries, but they can also perform what is called a “rape kit” to establish evidence of an assault. Read on to find out more about why you may need a doctor in a sex abuse case. 

Getting Medical Attention After an Assault

After experiencing a sexual assault, you should seek medical attention as soon as you feel comfortable doing so. A doctor will be able to treat any injuries from the assault and execute a rape kit, which can be essential to convicting your abuse if it is something you choose to pursue. 

To access medical care after an assault, you can call the confidential National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 and speak with a local sexual assault service provider who can connect you with a doctor. If you don’t feel like calling, you can also see local doctors online through this website. 

What Are The Specific Injuries Associated with Sexual Abuse?

Some victims of sex abuse may not think they’ve experienced any physical injuries. However, when medical professionals are examining a victim for physical signs of sex abuse, they will look for injuries on these areas of the body: 

• Genitals
• Breasts
• Buttocks
• Back
• Thighs
• Neck
• Wrists
• Ankles
  

Medical Care After a Sexual Assault

Getting medical care after a sexual assault is imperative to helping a survivor heal both physically and mentally. If you are able to seek medical care immediately following a sexual assault, try not to change your clothes or bathe yourself before going. This may inadvertently get rid of important evidence that could be used to catch an abuser. 

Apart from offering a way to collect evidence against your abuser, medical care is imperative to a survivor’s physical health. A doctor or medical professional will be able to offer care surrounding possible sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy, and any other physical injuries sustained from the abuse. 

Psychological Care After Sex Abuse

Psychologically healing after experiencing sexual abuse is just as important as healing physically. Experiencing sex abuse can result in large amounts of trauma that can last for a very long time, which is why talking to someone and getting the necessary psychological care after sex abuse is critical. 

There are many organizations that facilitate psychological services after sexual abuse. RAINN and Planned Parenthood are two notable organizations that offer this sort of support. 

Get A Free Case Review

If you or someone you love is a survivor of sex abuse and is searching to get justice through legal action, our office is prepared to help in any way that we can. We know that taking action is part of the healing process for many sex abuse survivors, which is why we dedicate our best staff to such cases. If you are interested in taking legal action against an abuser, give our office a call today at 602-955-0055, and we will review your case for free.