What does the hospital do if someone?!

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

I don't know much about rape kits, but from what I understand the process is much like an intensified version of getting a PAP smear. For example instead of just undressing in the exam room alone a victim would undress with a nurse in the room and the clothing worn during/before the rape is collected as evidence. Sometimes they scrape under fingernails for possible skin cells if the victim fought back by scratching etc. Obviously there's a pelvic exam for collecting evidence from the genitals. I think the physical exam is usually followed by an interview with either police or an available mental health professional (for example a therapist from the hospital's psych ward.)

Mostly the exam is the same for everyone. They still need to collect evidence from all the same areas. If the rape victim has not reached the age of puberty yet then a pediatrician from the pediatrics ward might be called down to perform the exam instead of whom ever would normally do it. Especially at night I would think it sort of depends on who's on staff at the time. Rape kits are usually available in Emergency Rooms so I guess the medical staff that work in the ER would handle kits, but its totally possible for a hospital to page other professionals from different parts of the hospital and I image most medical facilities would have some kind of procedure in place.

Also while I was searching for info I found a site that said younger victims may be examined in different positions than adults. Basically if their feet can't reach the stirrups then they would lay on the examine table in the same position we put babies in for changing diapers. Thighs spread usually with the knees partially bent. If the victim is younger than kindergarten age and it makes them more comfortable they can be examined while in their parent or caretaker's lap with their legs spread. Another option, especially if the victim is a boy, is for the kid to lay their head on the exam table maybe on a cushion and have their butt in the air. For a swab to be taken.

Apparently position and physician being a pediatrics are about the only things that change about the examine.

Ehow.com's guide on performing a rape kit on victim↓
http://www.ehow.com/how_2104466_conduct-…
Ehow.com's guide to getting a rape kit done (for victims)↓
http://www.ehow.com/how_2033896_complete…
Pandora's Guide (less clinical) to getting through the rape kit process↓
http://www.pandys.org/articles/rapekit.h…
Rape Abuse And Incest Network↓
http://www.rainn.org/
Rape Assistance And Awareness Program↓
http://www.raap.org/
Boston Rape Crisis Center↓
http://www.barcc.org/forensics/saf/evide…
Crime Lab Backlog and How it affects the Justice System (rape kits sometimes go untested)↓
http://www.click2houston.com/news/264780…