This book examines sexual contact and abuse from a purely scientific and medical perspective and, as such, the book covers:

• the recently updated and relevant legislation
• the sexual biology (anatomy and physiology) of the body, especially related to understanding medical aspects of injury and sexual contact, how and when injuries are caused, and how these relate to findings and their consequences
• the critical aspects of medical forensic examinations including incident history, clinical examination technique, medical findings, evidence collection, special laboratory investigations and medical reports for court.

The cadre of forensic nursing as a professional scope of nursing has recently been accepted by the Nursing Council and is now beginning to emerge, and legally in this country such nurses are now allowed to examine sexual abuse cases, issue reports and give testimony provided they undergo an accredited training programme in sexual abuse medicine. In addition, medical and legal professionals need to understand, interpret, and present sexual medical evidence appropriately in sexual offences cases. 

This book will serve as a ready reference for the understanding and interpretation of the sexual biology and medicine, both in the medical practitioner’s consulting room and the courtroom.

Editor

Dr Steve Naidoo, is an independent consultant forensic pathologist and clinical forensic practitioner in Durban, South Africa.

PART I: LEGAL, ADMINISTRATIVE & ETHICAL ASPECTS

Chapter 1 – Legislation & offences

Chapter 2 – Responses on the management of sexual offences

Chapter 3 – Authorisation, consent & ethical issues of medical examinations

PART II: BIOLOGY OF SEXUAL CONTACT

Chapter 4 – Properties of skin and mucous membranes in injury

Chapter 5 – Physical injuries – relevant aspects

Chapter 6 – Biology of sexual function

Chapter 7 – Genital injury during sexual intercourse

Chapter 8 – Biological evidence in sexual contact

Chapter 9 – Sexually transmitted infections

PART III: CLINICAL ASPECTS

Chapter 10 – The clinical examination and its medicolegal issues

Chapter 11 – Selected aspects of the child victim of sexual abuse

Chapter 12 – Documentation and reaching clinical conclusions

Chapter 13 – Principles for medical treatment of survivors of sexual abuse

PART IV: MISCELLANEOUS

Chapter 14 – Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) and toxicology

Chapter 15 – Misconceptions around sexuality and rape

Chapter 16 – Validation of the clinical examiner 

• Medical, nursing and legal undergraduate students
• Medical, nursing and legal professionals (magistrates, judges, emergency room physicians, outpatient hospital doctors, etc.) who deal with sexual abuse matters.