After rape exam, underclothes often kept as evidence. Nurse buys new ones, raises awareness

[Tanuki]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/02/18/after-rape-exam-womens-underclothes-are-often-taken-evidence-this-nurse-buys-them-new-ones/#click=https://t.co/D8M81E01qe

"Emergency room nurse Martha Phillips watched a rape survivor walk out of the hospital in oversize scrubs last December, her arms clutched tightly around her chest in embarrassment because her bra had been taken as evidence. Phillips was outraged on her behalf.
....
"Somebody who has been sexually assaulted has gone through enough trauma,” said Phillips, a nurse for almost 14 years whose team examined 136 rape and sexual assault survivors last year. “And then they have to leave the hospital feeling exposed, without a bra or a decent pair of underwear? It was just unacceptable.”

That afternoon, Phillips, 40, stopped by a family department store in Bellingham and bought $150 worth of bras and underwear to keep at the hospital. Then she posted a photo of the undergarments on Facebook, along with a sentiment that has now been shared more than 100,000 times.
.....
Phillips ended her post with a link to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Networkand a plea for people to reach out to their hospital’s forensic nursing team, rape crisis center or domestic violence shelter with donations of new bras, underwear, sweatpants and socks.

Overnight, Phillips said, the response to her post was overwhelming. People dropped off so many bras and underwear at PeaceHealth hospital that there are now enough available to help rape survivors for an entire year, she said. And after that, Phillips added, the hospital has made a commitment to buy the undergarments."...(more)

[Sapient Donkey]

1. This is something I never even considered or thought about

Interesting how things that seem like they should be common sense are not realized until they are pointed out. I would have thought this would be something more people who are directly involved in the process would have realized early on.

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. I feel the same.

And gut punched at what a year's worth of need for a single hospital would consist of.

[redstatebluegirl]

3. Nurses are angels here on earth.

[calimary]

4. Yes. They ARE.

[llmart]

5. +1000

[lostnfound]

6. Agreed. Nt

[druidity33]

9. Right alongside

librarians! My 2 favorite peoples!

K&R

[milestogo]

7. Sometimes other clothes are also kept as evidence too.

Like shirts, pants, and coats. Once they are in evidence you usually don't get them back. Get raped, lose your only winter coat.

[Mr.Bill]

8. Also sometimes injured people have to have their clothes

cut off. Or people come into the ER on a warm day in shorts and a t shirt, then get discharged later in the night and it's cold outside. My wife is a retired RN and when she was still working she started a clothing bank in the ER with clothes donated by hospital employees. She got so many donations (Nurses are very generous) we also stocked the closets and dressers at a battered women's shelter. Some people arrive at those places with children and nothing but the clothes they have on.