6533b7ddfe1ef96bd1273dff
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Medico legal procedures related to sexual assault: a 10-year retrospective experience of a Daphne protocol application
Livio MiloneEdoardo ScaliciStefania ZerboRosaria NardelloE Ventura SpagnoloS ProcacciantiAntonina ArgoDonatella Piscionierisubject
Medico legalmedicine.medical_specialtyHealth (social science)education2734Pathology and Forensic Medicine03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicineMedico-legal proceduresSettore MED/43 - Medicina LegaleHealth caremedicinelcsh:Law in general. Comparative and uniform law. Jurisprudence0501 psychology and cognitive sciencesSex organ030216 legal & forensic medicinePsychiatryChildSexual assaultlcsh:R5-920Genital traumaGender violenceMedico-legal procedureProtocol of sexual abusebusiness.industrySexual abuse05 social sciencesChild; Gender violence; Genital trauma; Medico-legal procedures; Protocol of sexual abuse; Sexual abuse; 2734; Health (social science); Lawsocial sciencesGender violenceFamily memberSexual abuselcsh:K1-7720businesslcsh:Medicine (General)Law050104 developmental & child psychologyProtocol Applicationdescription
Background: Sexual assault is a worldwide problem that has not yet been sufficiently acknowledged as confirmed by the literature. Italian law n.96, 1996, foreseeing norms regarding rape and sexual abuse, finally gave significant relevance to sex crimes. In 2004, the European Commission for Justice Internal Affairs and Social Politics promoted the Daphne II program to support victims of rape and abuse, and the Violence and Operative Healthcare Networks (Ve.R.S.O.) project started at the Policlinico âP. Giacconeâ University Hospital of Palermo in 2006. Aim: data analysis emerging from 10 years experience of Daphne protocol utilization for the management of sexual assault victims. Methods: From October 2006 since December 2016 a total of 90 victims of sexual assault were retrospectively investigated. Patients are divided into groups in relation to: gender, age, place of SA, number and type of assailant, nature of sexual assault, presence/absence of physical or genital injuries. Results: Among victims 88 were females (97%) and 2 males (3%); 68 Italians (75.5%) and 22 foreigners (24.5%). At the time the events occurred, 42% (n = 38) of the victims were minors aged less than 16Â years. In 11 cases, the age of the victim is not indicated. The assailant was an acquaintance of the victim in 65% of the cases (in 73% of these cases, the assailant was a family member). In 26 cases (28%) happened indoor, 44 cases happened outdoor and in 20 cases there were no data. Evidence of recent acute general body trauma (abrasions, bruises, lacerations) was found in 38 cases (42%); other types of injuries include: genital trauma (14 cases, 15%), genital and body traumas (49 cases, 54%) (tab. 1â2-). In 24 cases (26%) there were no injuries. Among genital trauma, we distinguished vulvo-vaginal lesions (68.5%) and anal lesions (31.5%). We have classified the minor victims using first Adamâs classification and based on Adamâs classification revised in 2015. Conclusion: Application of the Ve.R.S.O project protocol changed and greatly improved health management of victims of violence. By following these procedures, violence and abuse are analyzed from every point of view, also for an appropriate assessment of the medium and long term health consequences of sexual assault. Only in this way are citizens provided with a high level of protection against gender violence, psychological support and prevention from any form of violence which takes place in respect of such vulnerable people.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-19 |