Interpersonal violence is any type of abuse and/or harm that happens between individuals. It can include:
- Sexual assault
- Domestic, dating, and/or intimate partner violence
- Child abuse (physical, sexual, emotional and neglect)
- Teen dating violence
- Human trafficking
- Elder abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, financial, and neglect)
After an interpersonal assault, Medical Forensic Exams are essential to both physical and emotional healing. The Forensic Healthcare & Violence Intervention Department provides registered nurses that have received the following specialized training:
- Trauma informed medical care
- Certification as Pediatric and Adult Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners through the Texas Office of the Attorney General
- Dynamics and identification of all types of interpersonal violence (sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse)
- Physical injury assessment and identification
- Strangulation assessment and identification
- Forensic photography skills
- Standards for evidence collection per the Texas Evidence Collection Protocol
What to expect during a Medical Forensic Exam
During a medical forensic exam, our certified forensic nurses have been specially trained to:
- Provide emotional support
- Explain victim’s rights under Texas law
- Provide a complete head to toe physical examination
- Strangulation assessment if indicated
- Collection of evidence if indicated
- Forensic photography of injuries
- Provide medications for sexually transmitted infections & pregnancy prophylaxis if assault involves a sexual assault
- Assist in developing an individualized safety planning
- Provide community resources for further help and support
- Assistance in reporting the crime to law enforcement when requested or mandated
** If you are between the ages of 18-64, it is NOT required to report assaults to law enforcement.
Medical Forensic Examination Locations
Texas Health Emergency Departments that offer medical forensic exams from the Forensic Healthcare & Violence Intervention Department can be located on our Resources page.