Immediate medical assistance after rape

Rape is a medical emergency. This is why the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg has been committed to providing appropriate care for those affected for years - together with the district hospital in Frankenberg. It is important to keep sensitising the public to this taboo subject. This is why the district is once again launching various measures this year - from digital advertising spaces to analogue displays and cinema advertising.

Medical care without reporting
Many victims of sexual assault are reluctant to report it to the police for various reasons. However, this step should not determine the appropriate medical care. There are often fears that those affected will not receive help or will be pressurised into seeking help without reporting the crime, which can lead to considerable health and psychological consequences. In Waldeck-Frankenberg, victims of rape can receive medical help without feeling obliged to report the offence. Medical care can be provided both with and without securing evidence. Of course, medical confidentiality is always observed.

Traces are stored for a year
Immediate medical care for those affected is available at Frankenberg District Hospital, absolutely free of charge. At the request of the victim, evidence is secured and stored safely for up to one year at the forensic medicine centre in Giessen. If those affected decide to press charges within this period, the traces can be used by the police. However, if no charges are brought, the material is then destroyed.

Gabriele Schalk, the senior consultant and acting head of the Clinic for Gynaecology and Obstetrics at the district hospital, makes it clear: "Every woman finds herself in an exceptional situation after a sexual assault. We offer sensitive medical care at all times and provide women with empathetic counselling. The optional forensic examination provides relief for the victim. Above all, it gives her time to think calmly about making a report."

Raising public awareness
To raise public awareness of this important offer, cinema advertising will be placed in two screens of the Kino Studio cinema in Willingen and in five screens of the Cine K cinema in Korbach between 20 and 26 November. A digital advertising space in Bad Wildungen will also be used until 31 December and a digital advertising space in Frankenberg will be used from 24 November to 30 November. In addition, in October, a large-scale advertising campaign was also organised around shopping facilities in several towns, including Bad Arolsen, Burgwald, Diemelsee, Diemelstadt, Frankenau, Gemünden (Wohra), Haina (Kloster), Lichtenfels, Rosenthal, Vöhl, Volkmarsen and Waldeck.

"Providing support - low-threshold and confidential"
"Our top priority is to provide those affected with the help they need in such a situation," says Beate Friedrich, the district's women's representative, explaining the concept. "Very low-threshold, confidential and without the pressure of having to make a report." Of course, all victims are advised to report sexual assault to the police. "In acute situations, however, those affected are often initially overwhelmed. Thanks to our concept, they can still decide to do so at a later point in time if they wish - and then use the evidence obtained to do so." Further information can be found here.

Caption (from left to right): Drawing attention to the topic of "Immediate medical assistance after rape": District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst, Senior Physician Gabriele Schalk, Assistant Physician Carolin Gattinger and Miriam Drüppel and Tanja Schreiber from the Women and Equal Opportunities Service of the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg. (Photo: Frankenberg District Hospital)

Keywords:

Immediate help after rape Specialist service for women and equal opportunities