Sexual assault

According to recent national studies, one in six women and one in 33 men wi ll experience an attempted or completed rape during their lifetime. Althoug h most rapes are never reported, victims that do report them often present to the emergency department for intervention. The emergency physician must be able to treat acute injuries, accurately collect and record evidence, of fer STD and pregnancy prophylaxis, offer emotional support (with the social worker and rape crisis advocate), and provide appropriate referrals for fo llow-up care. The emergency physician can play a crucial role in easing the transition from victim to survivor with initial treatment. This article su mmarizes current recommendations for evaluation and treatment of sexual ass ault victims.