|
| |
Hospital Advocacy
What a Hospital Advocate Does
- A Hospital Advocate believes you and helps to protect your rights
- A Hospital Advocate provides support and assistance to you, your family,
and friends throughout your hospital visit.
- A Hospital Advocate facilitates communication between you and medical
personnel.
- A Hospital Advocate helps you to access other social programs and services
for follow-up care.
What a Hospital Advocate Does Not Do
- A Hospital Advocate does not make your choices for you
- A Hospital Advocate does not give medical advice and is not a medical
professional.
- A Hospital Advocate does not release information about you to anyone for
any reason without your express consent.
- A Hospital Advocate does not state our agency name or who they are if they
call to follow up with you.
- A Hospital Advocate does not do anything you will not know about.
Things to Expect with a Forensic Exam
The following is a very brief description of what to expect during a
forensic medical exam or "rape kit." Remember to ask questions as you go along
if you don't understand something and remember you can refuse any part of the
exam if you choose.
- You should try not to use the bathroom, eat, or drink before the exam
because this may interfere with some aspects of evidence collection.
- You must give written consent to have the exam performed.
- You will be asked to give a general medical history (i.e. current
medications, past illnesses etc...)
- You will be asked to give a "sexual assault/abuse history" which is a
detailed description of the assault.
- If you are wearing clothing you wore during the assault you may be asked
to give it to the nurse as evidence.
- The nurse will take various "samples" from you (such as fingernail
scrapings, hair standards, oral swabs etc...) this is for evidence collection
and to establish a difference between your DNA and any other that is found.
- If you think you were given a "drug" used to facilitate a rape or sexual
assault the nurse will collect a urine sample. Depending on the time lapsed
since the assault, the nurse may also advise the collection of blood.
- The nurse will offer you emergency contraception and medications that may
help to prevent contraction of sexually transmitted diseases.
- The final stage of the exam is a vaginal/penile exam in which the nurse
will check for injuries and evidence.
- After the exam is complete you will have toiletries and clothes provided
to you by the SAC advocate (if your clothes are given over as evidence.)
Your Rights As A Survivor
- You have the right to be offered an advocate from the Sexual Assault
Center
- You have the right to be questioned and treated in a private area
- You have the right to have an additional support person (in addition to
the advocate) present during the interview and/or forensic exam
- You have the right to refuse to speak with law enforcement personnel if
they arrive at the hospital.
- You have the right to refuse any part of the forensic exam
- You have the right to privacy regarding the sexual assault, your sexual
history, your sexual orientation, your medical history, and your mental health
history.
- You have the right to have each step of the exam explained to you before
it is performed.
- To have a sexual assault counselor come with you to medical, law
enforcement, and legal proceedings.
- To ask questions and raise concerns you might have regarding your care.
- To understand any forms you are asked to sign.
- To be assured of strict confidentiality.
- You have the right to apply for compensation through The Georgia Crime
Victims Compensation Program.
- You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
- To be believed.
|
