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Briefing on New Service Model in

Handling Adult Sexual Violence Cases


2007-02-14
Forensic Examination for
Victims of Sexual Violence
Dr SHUM Shui-fung, Bobby
Head of NT Division,
Forensic Pathology Service,
Department of Health
Forensic Pathology Service
Department of Health
Provides forensic pathology and clinical
forensic medicine services to government
departments


Operate public mortuaries
Attend scenes of crimes
Clinical medico-legal examinations
Consultation
Court proceedings
Forensic Pathology Service
Scope of Service
Sexual offences
Serious Wounding Cases
Child Abuse
CAT (Convention Against
Torture) Claimant
Victims
Suspects


Medical Staff
15 Forensic Pathologists + 1 Pathologist
FP: 13 male, 2 female
Assistants to Forensic Pathologists
8 Police Officers: 5 male, 3 female
Forensic Pathology Service
Staff
Forensic Pathology Service


Public Mortuaries
Histopathology Laboratories
Offices with Clinical Examination Facilities
HKI (PHQ) Tel 28602466
K (KWRPHQ) Tel 27612405
NT (NTNRPHQ) Tel 26664224
Facilities
Forensic Pathology Service


11/F, NTN Regional Police HQ
On Po Lane, Tai Po
Tel 26664224
NT Office
NT Office
NT Office
NT Office
NT Office
NT Office
NT Office
NT Office
NT Office
NT Office
NT Office
NT Office
Forensic Pathology Service


6/F, Arsenal House West Wing, Police HQ
Arsenal Street, Wanchai
Tel 28602466
HKI Office
HKI Office
HKI Office
HKI Office
HKI Office
HKI Office
Forensic Pathology Service


3/F, KW Regional Police HQ
Argyle Street
Tel 27612405
Kln Office
Sexual Offence
Rape, attempted rape
Indecent assault
Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under
13/16
Unlawful sexual intercourse with mentally
defective
Buggery
Rape
Cap 200 Crimes Ordinance:
A man commits rape if-
(a) he has unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman
who at the time of the intercourse does not consent to it;
and
(b) at that time he knows that she does not consent to
the intercourse or he is reckless as to whether she
consents to it
Forensic Examination of
Victims of Sexual Violence
Evidence (physical / laboratory)
Sexual intercourse
injury to private parts
presence of semen
Non-consensual
pattern of injuries
toxicological examination
Forensic Examination of
Victims of Sexual Violence
Medical treatment must take priority
SAFETY OF VICTIM COMES FIRST!!
Examination Suite
Accessibility (24 hour)
Security (restricted, lock)
Cleanliness / Comfortableness (warm)
Privacy (view & sound, entry & exit)
Enough space
Examination Suite
Waiting area (family, SW, police)
Examination area (forensic pathologists,
chaperone / nurse, interpreter)
Equipment (couch, lighting, magnifying glass,
swabs, specimen containers, water)
Toilet

Forensic Examination of Adult
Rape Victims
Consent
History
Physical Examination
general examination
genito-anal examination
Sample collection
Documentation and reporting
Consent
Consent
Informed
Voluntary
Capacity - MIP
guardian
invoke Part IVC
guardianship board
History
What signs to look for
What samples to take
How to interpret findings


History
Routine background
Medical
Gynaecological
Sexual
What happened
The victim should not be asked to describe the
assault repeatedly

Physical Examination
General examination
Genito-anal examination
General Examination
General Examination
General appearance
Upper arms, forearms and hands
Face, ears, lips
Scalp
Neck
Breasts
Abdomen
Thighs and Legs
Hips and Buttocks

Non genito-anal injuries
Bruises and contusions (e.g. inner aspect of
thighs, scalp, face, lips);
Lacerations (e.g. scalp, forearm);
Ligature marks (e.g. ankles, wrists and neck);
Pattern injuries (i.e. fingertip marks, scratch
marks, bite marks, factitious self-inflicted
injuries)
Defensive Injuries
Road Surface Injuries
Lip Bruising
Fingertip Bruising
Genito-anal Examination
Inspection, labial traction
Swabs
Speculum
Anal +/- digital +/- proctoscope
Genito-anal Examination
Genito-anal Injuries
Genito-anal injuries
Genito-anal injuries
Forensic Specimens
Vulval / vaginal / endocervical swabs
Buccal swabs for DNA profiling Other
swabs (e.g. anal, oral, breasts)
Fingernail (clipping / scraping)
Pubic hair
Clothing / debris
+/- Toxicological samples (blood, urine)
Forensic Specimens
Forensic Specimens
Vulval / vaginal / endocervical swabs
Buccal swabs for DNA profiling Other
swabs (e.g. anal, oral, breasts)
Fingernail (clipping / scraping)
Pubic hair
Clothing / debris
+/- Toxicological samples (blood, urine)
Forensic Specimens
Oral swab: up to 1 day (usually few hours
Drugs and alcohol:
blood up to 4 days (usually half-day)
urine up to 7 days
Rectal swab: 3 days (usually 1 day)
Vaginal swab: up to 7 days (usually < 72 hours)
Skin swab: before washing
Dry material (panties): before washing
Swab Taking
Arrangement - Availability
Through police
Office hours (~ 9-5): offices of respective
regions
HKI (PHQ) Tel 28602466
K (KWRPHQ) Tel 27612405
NT (NTNPHQ) Tel 26664224
Outside Office (after 5, public holidays:
Forensic pathologist on-call)
Arrangement - Timing
Drug-facilitated cases: ASAP
Fresh/recent cases < 72 hours: earliest time
practicable (usu. < 2 hours or so)
Cold cases: earliest convenience
Arrangement - Place
Hospitals (A&ED, Wards - if indicated e.g.
admitted/for joint examination)
Rain Lily
CAIU Examination Suites (child, vulnerable
victims)
Forensic Pathologists Offices (if mobile, esp.
cold cases)

Forensic Evidence & FPs role
Factual evidence v Expert evidence
Impartial, for court and justice, not for either
side
Non-judgmental (we are not jurors)
Objective, disinterested, independent,
uninfluenced
Opinion: scientific method applied on
available data
Limited to field of expertise
Further Reading
Available for free download
at WHO > WHO sites >
Injuries and Violence
Prevention > Publications
> Violence publications

http://www.who.int/violenc
e_injury_prevention/public
ations/violence/med_leg_g
uidelines/en/index.html

Thank You

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