Health Professional’s Dual Role in Responding to Sexual Assault Survivors: Providing Care and Ensuring Justice
Health professionals play a crucial role in responding to survivors of sexual assault, as they have a dual responsibility to provide necessary medical treatment and psychological support, as well as to assist survivors in their medico-legal proceedings by collecting evidence and ensuring good quality documentation. It is important to note that after making an assessment regarding the severity of sexual violence, the first responsibility of the doctor is to provide medical treatment and attend to the survivor’s needs, while keeping in mind that the sites of treatment would also be examined for evidence collection later.
