Evaluation and Management of the Sexually Assaulted or Sexually Abused Patient

This handbook was first produced by the American College of Emergency Physicians in 1999. This project was an enormous undertaking at the time and was produced under its contract 98-0347(P) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Several key stakeholder organizations were assembled to produce and review this handbook (see next page).

Since the first production of this handbook, “A National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations” was developed by the US Department of Justice/Office for Violence Against Women. This was revised in 2013. In addition, ACEP created the Forensic Medicine Section in 2009. One of the goals of the section was to revise and update this handbook. In 2011, the Forensic Medicine Section was awarded an ACEP Section Grant to accomplish this goal.

This handbook represents the work of several members of the section to revise and update the information provided.