A 58-year-old female who has been sexually assaulted has minor vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain. She wants to use the bathroom before transport. Which approach is appropriate?

• A. Allow her to use the bathroom only if she allows a female responder on scene observe.
• B. Tell her that her vital signs are unstable and that you need to transport her immediately.
• C. Explain why she should wait to use the bathroom until she gets to the hospital.
• D. Ask her to leave any bloody garments or sanitary products in the trash after she finishes.

Answer: (C)

In suspected sexual assault, preserving evidence while ensuring prompt medical care is the priority. Explaining that she should wait to use the bathroom until she reaches the hospital helps protect forensic evidence for a proper examination. Voiding or contaminating the vaginal area can wash away or alter trace evidence (such as semen or DNA) and complicate the forensic analysis, which is best performed at the hospital with trained personnel and a rape kit under strict chain-of-custody procedures.

While en route, continue to provide support, maintain her privacy, monitor for any signs of deterioration, and arrange rapid transport to a facility equipped for a thorough medical-legal evaluation. The focus is on safety and evidence preservation; other actions that delay transport or destroy evidence—like discarding bloodied garments—are not appropriate.