Law Commons^™

#Metoo Meets The Emergency Room: Providing And Paying For Care After A Sexual Assault, Stacey L. Worthy, Shruti R. Kulkarni, Taylor J. Kelly, Jessica Johnson

Saint Louis University Journal of Health Law & Policy

Sexual assault continues to be a major public health problem in the United States. Compounding the problem, survivors of sexual assault all too often face challenges of obtaining and paying for sexual assault forensic exams (SAFEs), commonly referred to as a “rape kit,” and related medical services. Sexual assault survivors who do seek medical care in the emergency department (ED) are often turned away for several reasons, such as EDs determining that sexual assault is not an emergency medical condition, failing to carry SAFEs, or refusing to treat survivors who lack proof of insurance. Denial of care can …