Immediate medical assistance after rape in Offenbach
16.12.2022 – Since 2015, the "Immediate medical assistance after rape" has been successfully established in Offenbach as part of the cooperation between the Women's Office, SANA Clinic, Ketteler Hospital and pro familia and ensures medical care. On request, evidence can be collected confidentially without the need to report the crime beforehand.
Every rape is a medical emergency
"After a rape, the women affected need fast and safe help. The question of whether or not to press charges often only arises after the woman has become concerned about her own health. However, evidence must be secured quickly so that it can be used by the police," explains Dr. Inga Halwachs, Municipal Women's and Equal Opportunities Officer.
"Immediate medical assistance after rape gives the women affected time to make a self-determined and informed decision about making a police report without endangering their health or securing evidence relevant to the investigation. I would therefore like to thank everyone involved for their important work in this project," explains the Lord Mayor, Dr. Felix Schwenke, who has attached great importance to the project since his first day in office.
Acute care is provided by both Offenbach hospitals, the Sana Klinikum Offenbach and the Ketteler Hospital. At the request of the victims, the traces are secured according to a standardized findings sheet from the Frauenennotruf Frankfurt. The clinics have the necessary examination kits and documentation forms for the collection of findings and securing of evidence that can be used in court. This questionnaire can be used for all persons affected by rape, regardless of gender. Following the examination, the materials are then stored for one year at the Frankfurt Forensic Medicine Department and evaluated by the police in the event of subsequent charges being filed. If the woman does not decide to press charges, the materials are destroyed after one year.
Since the introduction of the emergency aid at the beginning of 2015 until the end of 2021, 71 women and girls have been examined and treated in the aid program. By the end of September 2022, a further 13 women and girls had received medical treatment, with the majority opting for confidential forensics.
The number of women receiving acute medical care is rising continuously and has increased significantly again in the last 1.5 years.
"In addition to acute medical care, affected women and girls receive confidential psychosocial counseling and support from the pro familia Offenbach women's helpline to help them cope with the event and make a decision for or against reporting it," explains counselor Pia Barth. The fact that more and more women can now be cared for by the Emergency Medical Aid after a rape is also the result of continuous public relations work. In addition to flyers and posters, the Sana Klinikum and the Ketteler Hospital have donated 1,000 euros each to enable posters to be displayed on some public transport buses in Offenbach for another year. The posters displayed there read: 'If a sprained ankle is an emergency - then what is rape?
Heike Pinne, head of the pro familia advice center, thanks the clinics for their support: "Only if the service is known can it be used in an emergency. Without the clinics' donations, we wouldn't be able to finance the posters on the buses."
"Sexual violence against children, women and men should simply have no place in our society," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Christian Jackisch, the long-standing head physician of the women's clinic at the Sana Klinikum in Offenbach, and senior physician Dr. Silvia Khodaverdi, who has been coordinating and training these measures at the Sana Klinikum in Offenbach for years, adds: "It is a reassuring feeling to be able to help where legally compliant, approachable help is so important."
Head physician Dr. Lars Schröder from the women's clinic at Ketteler Hospital emphasizes that girls and women need to be professionally supported and accompanied after such a drastic experience. "Affected girls and women can be sure of support in this stressful situation at our hospital."
Furthermore, a new pro familia information website has been online for a year. At www.hilfe-nach-sexueller-gewalt-offenbach.de, those affected can quickly find help and all the important addresses and telephone numbers, and the emergency medical aid procedure is explained. The website is now also available in English, Turkish, Romanian and Arabic. An easy-to-read version and printed materials in Braille for blind people are currently being developed.