V. Medical Attention

If a survivor is so inclined, it is imperative that he or she seek immediate medical attention. Physical evidence of a sexual penetration goes stale after 72 hours, at a maximum, and it is best to have a PERK (Physical Evidence Recovery Kit) administered by a doctor within 48 hours of the assault. This procedure is free only at OHSU.

Preserving physical evidence is essential to any later criminal prosecution, and it is extremely helpful in campus adjudications. Convictions without physical evidence are all but impossible. PERK results are sealed by the doctor and safeguarded by the police. Police will be notified when a PERK is administered. Although the PERK is only done at OHSU, the morning after pill and test for STDs and pregnancy are available at the Student Health Center.

However, by Oregon statute, only police officers authorize rape evidentiary testing, PERK being one form of testing which is a simple swabbing for semen to submit to a police lab. The Portland Police authorization is granted if it appears the survivor will legally follow through with criminal proceedings which starts with a police report.

Unless it is still being worn, clothing worn at the time of the assault should be placed in clean, unused paper bags and taken to the hospital (or college Student Health Center). Receiving medical attention is also important if it is possible that the survivor has suffered internal injuries, or fears pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.

In most areas, administration of the PERK is free. However, it may be of concern to the victim that hospitals do charge for pregnancy and STD tests. If pregnancy is a serious concern, the survivor should be aware that it is lawful for doctors to prescribe a "morning-after" pill to rape victims which induces their periods, whether or not they are pregnant.

The Sexual Assault Checklist used by OHSU emergency unit is available from the Sexual Assault Response Advocate or the Dean of Students.

Note: While this policy neither promotes nor discourages the practice of abortion, it holds as paramount the right of survivors to know options and be empowered to make their own decisions.

Rape Trauma Syndrome (RTS)

An acute stress reaction to the threat of being killed or of being seriously injured, resulting from either a completed or attempted sexual assault. Not all the reactions encompassed by RTS are experienced by each survivor, rather, RTS represents a range of possible reactions. RTS reactions vary from person to person.

RTS has two major phases: the immediate or acute phase, in which the survivor’s lifestyle is completely disrupted, and the longterm phase, in which the survivor must reorganize this disrupted lifestyle. Characteristics of the first phase include shock, disbelief, sleeping and eating pattern disturbances, difficulty in concentrating, fear, shame, guilt, mood swings, lack of self-esteem, and flashbacks to the incident. The reintegration phase will be aided by support from friends, relatives, and others in the survivor’s environment.