4.3.3.1 Forensic Exam Overview

During the exam, the healthcare provider will examine the survivor from head to toe, looking for any injuries or following up on any complaints of swelling, bruising or anything else.

With the survivor’s consent, they will then photograph those injuries.

If the equipment is available, they will examine the survivor’s body, with a special light, for dried fluids, which will be swabbed and packaged.

The survivor’s mouth and fingernails will also be swabbed with cotton-tipped swabs, and their fingernails will be clipped.

At that point, if the survivor consents, they will lie down on the examination table, and the healthcare provider will examine their genital area and, if needed and consent is obtained, take photographs.

The provider will take more swabs from different points on the survivor’s genitals.

Once all the swabs have been collected, the evidence is packaged and, with the survivor’s consent, released to the custody of law enforcement until (or for the occasion that) the survivor decides to prosecute in court.

After the exam, the survivor needs to receive medical treatment to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, HIV and pregnancy.