Things to Keep in Mind While Accessing Medical Help: Post Confronting Abuse

“Hello there! I’m here to provide you with a bit of information if you would like to seek medical help after having confronted an instance of sexual or gender-based violence. I would like to remind you that suggestions on this post should not be taken as medical advice, legal advice, therapy, etc. or as a one-size-fits-all approach.  Keep in mind that every individual’s journey of  experiencing and navigating through stress or trauma is distinctive because you are one of a kind and no person is truly like you!  Experiencing abuse in any form is NOT OKAY, but what you are experiencing as a result of abuse is valid. 

Please know that healing is not a formula and is not for anyone else to define for you. You do you, and you follow all that you need to follow, to help yourself.

If you need additional resources or just someone to talk to, feel free to reach out to The Neeti Project." 

(Image Source: Since Independence)

NOTE: The following data has been reproduced from Saahas, an app for individuals facing gender based violence to find assistance easily, created by Kirthi Jayakumar.

Kirthi has been a huge pillar of support and a personification of kindness and generosity since the get-go of this initiative. Members of The Neeti Project hold deep gratitude towards her constant assistance and contributions to make this space and the world at large, a better place.

Seeking Medical Assistance: 

After facing sexual assault, you may wish to get medical help to look over injuries, to treat wounds, injuries and PTSD impacts, and to save evidence. While seeking medical help, here are a few things to remember:

1) In most instances when you seek medical help, there will be a follow up in the form of examinations of your body and medical / forensic investigations. This can be triggering and traumatic, so it is always a good idea to have a good support system to help you through this - you could rely on friends or family, or even seek out the help of an organization around you, or a medical care provider.

2) Record all the physical evidence of the attack. Do not shower, bathe, douche your body, eat or drink, or brush your teeth until you have had a medical examination.

3) Take pictures of your injury, and make sure that your pictures are taken with your face visible in it. Take one picture with the injury and the face, and a second picture zooming in on the injury.

4) Save the clothing you wore during the attack – place each item into a separate paper bag (avoid plastic at all cost).

5) Get medical care right away if you have injuries. Even if you don’t have any injuries that you can see, get a medical examination done anyway, so that you can rule out any STDs or internal injuries. Moreover, a medical examination report is a significant element in the evidence. You may be given preventive treatment to avoid STDs.

6) If you feel like you’ve been given a drug or intoxicated by any external drug, offer up a urine sample for testing. Most drugs are detectable in the urine more often than in the blood stream.