Sexual offence examination of victim includes examination when there is official order from investigating police officer. The written, witnessed consent of women for examination, collection of samples, taking photographs and release of information to the police should be taken prior to the examination. If she is under 12 years of age (different according to country) or of unsound mind, written and witnessed consent should be taken.
Quick Navigation
Sexual offence examination of victim
History
- Name of victim and her parent, marital status, residence, occupation, time date and place of examination are noted.
- Statement of victim and others with her are recorded separately. The things should be noted are:
- whether she she knows accused, any food drinks are given prior to act which affected her consciousness, if she was put under threat, number of alleged, assailants, use of alcohol, drugs, restraints, weapon; if she lost consciousness at any time, call for help, ejaculation, position during act.
- Details of events after the alleged assault, changed or washed clothing, bathed, defecated, urinated prior to examination, brushed, combed hair, alcohol or drugs or treatment taken.
- Previous history with regard to sexual experiences, mensuration, vaginal discharge, pelvic operations, pregnancies, diseases etc.
- Recent consenting intercourse (especially for married victim).
Examination
The physical development should be noted and the capacity to struggle or resistance is determined. If the victim is menstruating, second examination should be done after stoppage of menstruation. Gait, complaints of pain (or on walking, urinating, defecation) should be noted. General demeanor, calm/distressed, shocked, intoxicated, agitated, tearful, aggressive, hysterical, emotional and mental status should also be observed.
General Examination
The victim is undressed completely and examined using ultraviolet light. Large and close-up photographs of injuries, especially for sexual area should be taken. The whole body must be examined for marks of violence, stretches, petechiae, bite marks, bruises, lacerations and areas of tenderness. The injuries are found mainly at mouth, throat, wrist, arms, lips, buttocks, breasts, neck, face, lower abdomen, and upper part of thigh.
Note: No attempt to undress victim should be done, rather the examiner can ask to undress herself. The victim is examined in the presence of female attendant (victim relative, female nurse) especially if the examiner is male. It is necessary to avoid himself being accused.
Clothes and Hair
The clothes are examined for various stain, blood, mud, grass, soiling, tears and loss of buttons, site and type of damage. Foreign hairs, fibers, skin surfaces must be preserved and compared with those found on the accused.
The pubic hair is combed out and non-matching male pubic hair and foreign particles are preserved. 20 to 25 pubic hairs are pulled out and cut, hair samples form head is also taken for the comparative standards. The sample is packed, labelled and sent to the laboratory.
Stains
Seminal stains and blood stains must be looked for. The seminal fluid pools in vagina after the sexual activity and that can leak out the vagina before hymen is examined. Swabs from the areas of introitus and perineum must be taken before the genital examination. Dried seminal stains found on external genitalia are scraped with blunt knife and sealed in packet and sent to chemical examination. The blood stains must be looked and the cause of blood stains must be ruled out whether it is due to menstruation blood or profuse vaginal wall bleeding.
Venereal disease and STDs
Degree of normal cleanness, erythema, irritations and abrasions are noted. Presence of any discharge should be looked for suspicion whether it is from inflammations of parts, gonorrhea, syphilis or any other causes.
.
.
References
- Simpsons’s Forensic Medicine; Jason Payne-James, Richard Jones, Steven B Karch, John Manlove.
- Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology; KN Reddy, OP Murty.
- Principles of Forensic Medicine; A. Nandi.
- Death and Deduction: A reasoned Approach to Forensic Pathology; AJ Chapman
- Review of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology: Gautam Biswas.
- Wertheimer JA. Examination of the rape victim. Postgrad Med 1971; 3:173-80.
- L. A. Hargot, The Sexual Assault Examination
- Sexual assault: examination of the victim; Deb Wardle
