FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATION

• Jurisdiction: Australia

Introduction ................................................................................................... [41B.300]

Role of the doctor ......................................................................................... [41B.320]

Multidisciplinary teams .................................................................................. [41B.340]

Medical history .............................................................................................. [41B.360]

Victim reactions and responses .................................................................... [41B.380]

Examination ................................................................................................... [41B.400]

Documenting the forensic medical examination ........................................... [41B.420]

[41B.300] Introduction

The purpose of the forensic medical examination (FME) is to ensure the health and well-being of a person following sexual assault while paying particular attention to obtaining forensic evidence (injury interpretation, specimen collection and documentation). A FME should be undertaken within 72 hours of the allegation to yield the most accurate collection of specimens and to identify injuries before the natural change occurs due to healing. After this period, changes in appearance due to healing complicate the interpretation of injuries and other evidence, for example, toxicological and biological material, disappears or is degraded due to natural processes.

There may be value in a FME outside the 72-hour time-frame in some cases and this should be determined by the circumstances of the allegations, nature of the injuries and potential for specimen collection.

Consent from the patient to undergo the FME must be sought by the doctor at the beginning of the consultation. It is important that consent covers all aspects of the FME, including history, examination, specimen collection...