Become the Griot

For many people a routine visit to the doctor is anything but routine. But for 1.8 million Texans (According to a University of Texas at Austin study) the visit to the doctor can be an even greater challenge. According to the study these Texans at some point in their lives have been a victim of sexual assault. According to RAINN 82% of people who are victims of rape/sexual assault never recieve medical interventions but they are being seen in the physicians office. They are being seen for symptomology related to chronic depression, eating disorders, obesity, anxiety disorders, gasteroentistinal problems, difficulty with concentration, maintaining healthy b0undaries/relationships and sleep disorders. Many doctors at intake will ask questions concerning a client's history that some people may indeed feel are invasive and personal. The problem is that when people with a history of sexual assault present themselves in the doctors office with these symptoms and a sexual assualt history has not been taken, physicians are missing opportunities to offer survivors access to interventive measures (through a referral system) to counseling, therapy, support groups and other social services.

The second part of the problem is that almost 50% of persons sexually assaulted are under age 18. Of those victims, 70% of the victims know their perpetrators or are related them. Many physicians find this challenging with respect to having to report instances of child sexual abuse, but the law is not merky, they must report. The following are some other reasons that physicians list as why they do not screen:

They fear opening Pandora's Box
They lack the training
They lack the time
They believe it is a personal issue
The cost would be too much

These arguments are indeed valid but one has to wonder about the correlation between having to screen for domestic violence in the ob/gyn community but no such requirements for the other medical disciplines. When so many children are at risk it does not seem at all seem prudent or fair. But for the sake of a balanced argument, suppose all of these arguments had merit. The question then becomes not why it is not possible, but how can we work through the barriers of screening for sexual assault to be able to offer survivors access to the best possible services to ensure a better overall quality of life.

With respect to training physicians must CME trainings which can be used toward education related to sexual assault. As for time, it is clear that time in the physicians office is less and less. However, others in the office can recieve the appropriate training to be able to approach individuals who make the decision to make an outcry. The staff can also where buttons which encourage people to ask questions; for example: Ask Me About Sexual Assult. This gives whomever wants to talk about the issue the opportunity to ask of their own volition in their own time about their concerns. Physicians can also work with local and are sexual assault agencies to have brochures in their offices which give informtion about sexual assault, available interventions, brochures that talk about help, hope and how to obtain justice. If the oath that the doctors take is to first do no harm, could it not be taken that lack of movement on this issue on behalf of victims, though passive is doing harm?

As for this being a very personal issue, this is right. It is one that involves fear, shame, guilt, sometimes hopelessness and mistrust. When physicians make the decision not to ask the question at intake and directly to the client as a part of a routine doctor visit then they have made offering hope, healing and justice for survivors less attainable and contribute directly to the darkness and secrecy that predators depend on to continue these dastardly acts. It is their responsibility.

The bottom line is that if advocates, survivors and other concerned persons don't let physicians know that screening is something they want to see done in their physicians office it will never get done. Let your physicians know that you want them to screen for sexual assault, have educational materials available in their office, have referral and legal brochures, DVDs available and also be prepared with respect to training to avoid re-victimization of victims.

Last legislative session the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault went to battle in support of preventing sexual violence in territory many felt was a little out of bounds. But TAASA showed its dedication to survivors by taking on the Entertainment Industry in Texas and asking legislators to support what might well be a continuous revenue fountain from which providers may partake of indefinitely. Unfortunately, an injunction kept TAASA and other provider agencies from benefiting from legislation that is supported by many in our community. TAASA insists that HB1751 is not a sin tax; that it was never meant to "impact patronage" (TAASA Connection) but the injunction faced constitutional questions that may soon by answered by Judge Jenkins. We will continue to update you as soon as word is handed down from the court.