Abstract
Author(s): ROBERT KOWALCZYK1, VIOLETTA SKRZYPULEC-PLINTA2, AGNIESZKA DROSDZOL-COP2,KATARZYNA WASZYÅSKA3
The text discusses the role of doctors and medical staff in helping the rape victim. The pro-cedure of the doctor performing forensic examination was discussed. It takes into account the obligations imposed by law to inform the relevant authorities of the occurrence of cases ofrape. Above all, however, presents a medical procedure that should be applied to a person,who has suffered rape. It includes step-by-step sequence describing various activities thatprovide the complex assistance. Firstly, methods that are carried out is taking the medical historyof the event. Secondly, it is to obtain the consent of women to conduct research and collectevidence. The article then describes the general physical examination, which should be sub-jected to a rape victim. Succession in case of bite marks, strangulations or other forms ofcoercion used by the perpetrator must be adequately protected. Similarly, it needs to be done,in a situation where the victim may have the parts of the perpetrators skin under the nails.Later the gynecological examination is explained, carrying out among others in order todetermine genital and microbiological injuries, which can cause the occurrence of infectioussexually transmitted diseases. Next step mentioned by the authors is to perform a pregnancytest. In addition to the recognition of specific medical procedures and operations to collectand record as many tracks, this article also focuses on the aftermath of rape. These are di-scussed from the perspective of disturbances in interpersonal relations, social functioning, aswell as in other areas of human functioning. In addition, article discusses the steps and thepossible emergence of psychological reactions, like post traumatic stress disorder, with thepresentation of statistics showing in what percentage of the victims it is most likely to occur.