Emergency Medical Care After Rape

If you have been the victim of a sexual assault and would like to file a report as soon as possible, call the Criminal Investigation Division. They will take your report and take you to a hospital. Contact the Criminal Investigation Duty Unit (KDD) of the East Hesse Police Headquarters directly; they are available around the clock at the following phone number: 0661 1053260

If you have been the victim of a sexual assault and do not wish to file a police report, you can contact one of the clinics listed below as soon as possible (within three days of the incident).

No report will be filed without your consent; the doctor-patient confidentiality rule applies.

Care following a rape should be provided as soon as possible (up to three days after the incident). Do not hesitate to contact one of the clinics—even if there are no visible injuries. If the rape occurred more than a day ago, we ask that you contact a clinic during the day rather than at night, if possible, due to staffing constraints at the clinics.

If more than three days have passed and you would like to seek medical care, please contact a gynecologist’s office you trust. Experience has shown that it is no longer possible to collect evidence (DNA material). However, physical and emotional changes and symptoms can be documented during a medical examination at a clinic.

If you have not sought emergency medical care, you also have the option of visiting the Fulda Rape Crisis Center if you notice injuries on your body—such as bruises—that you believe are related to the rape. There, a comprehensive physical examination can be conducted to assess the effects of the injuries and look for evidence of the crime.

Important: Gynecological/urological examinations are not available at the emergency clinic. Please contact a gynecologist or urologist you trust for this purpose.

Boys and men can also be raped. Of course, boys and men are also welcome to use the services offered by the rape crisis center.

Men can go to a hospital's general emergency department or to the surgical or urology outpatient clinic.

Depending on how you're feeling, having a close family member or a friend there can be very helpful. That person may not be able to come into the exam room with you, but they can wait with you and then accompany you home afterward.

You will authorize the attending physician to perform the examination, and that physician is bound by medical confidentiality.

Therefore, nothing may be done without your consent—or against your will − —not even the police may be notified! The doctor is under no obligation to report this.

No one is allowed to turn you away, and no one is allowed to pressure you to have evidence collected or to file a police report. Seek advice if you have any questions, and then decide together with your doctor what you want to do.

You can request to be examined by a female provider. If possible, the clinic will accommodate your request.

Describe what happened. This is the only way the doctor can get an idea of any possible injuries and physical consequences and examine and treat you thoroughly.

Documenting your injuries makes your account of what happened verifiable. This can be important for criminal proceedings (filing a complaint) as well as for civil proceedings (damages, compensation for pain and suffering). This may not seem very important to you right now, but that could change as the situation develops. You cannot make up for proper documentation of your medical findings later on.

If you decide to undergo a medical examination to document your injuries, any marks or injuries caused by the violent act on your body can be documented. If you later decide to file a police report, these findings can support your report. A medical examination and documentation of findings is advisable even if there are no visible external injuries!

Changing clothes, washing them, and showering can destroy evidence. If possible, please do not shower before the examination.

The samples collected for possible criminal prosecution will be retained.

In Fulda, the evidence collected by the hospitals is sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Giessen for storage. The retention period for evidence at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Giessen is three years. After this period, the samples are automatically destroyed.

Please note: You will no longer receive separate notification regarding this matter! This means that you must decide within three years whether the samples stored at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Giessen should be used in criminal proceedings, if necessary. The records remaining at the hospital will be retained there for the duration of the statutory retention period.

The statute of limitations for sexual offenses is up to 20 years, beginning when the victim reaches the age of 30.

If there is a possibility of an unwanted pregnancy as a result of rape, you can take the "morning-after pill."

The "morning-after pill" should be taken as soon as possible—up to 72 or 120 hours after the sexual assault, depending on the specific medication. It is available over the counter at pharmacies.

If you are unable to pay, reimbursement of costs and prescription fees may be available after consulting with the emergency clinic.

The "morning-after pill" can protect you from an unintended pregnancy: the sooner you take it, the more effective it is. It prevents or delays ovulation.

If you have any questions, please contact your gynecologist or the sexual assault clinic.

Try not to stay alone. You can contact support and counseling centers immediately after the incident—and even later—for guidance, support, and information (see Contacts). Counseling is free and can be accessed anonymously.

If you understand little or no German, or if you are deaf, we will arrange for an interpreter.

Topics for telephone or in-person counseling may include:

• How can I protect myself?
• How do I want to proceed?
• Who can help me?
• What are my rights? Should I file a complaint or not?
• What other types of assistance are available?

You can also contact us if you have questions about medical examination procedures or evidence-preservation protocols, or if you need contact information (e.g., for specialist practices).