Any person who has been a complainant of a sex offense is encouraged to seek prompt medical attention regardless of whether or not the decision has been made to report the crime to the police. Medical attention will help ensure that any injuries and/or diseases are identified and treated.
Medical attention allows for evidence collection at the individual’s request, which is extremely important should the individual decide at any point, immediately or later, to pursue criminal prosecution, civil action, or a protective order.
In order to preserve evidence, complainants should avoid the following
- Bathing
- Douching
- Urinating
- Drinking any liquids
- Smoking, eating, or brushing teeth if oral contact occurred
- Changing clothes. However, if clothes are changed, place the clothes you were wearing at the time of the assault in a paper bag
If evidence is collected, there is a special rape protocol that will be followed which entails swabs in and around the mouth, vagina, and anus; combing of pubic hair; collecting clothing; collecting samples of blood, hair, and saliva
The following local emergency rooms provide evidence collection:
- Thibodaux Regional Medical Center ~ 602 North Acadia Road~Thibodaux LA 70301~(985) 447-5500
- Chabert Hospital ~1978 Industrial Blvd, Houma, LA 70363 ~ (985) 873-2200
- Terrebonne General Medical Center ~ 8166 Main St, Houma, LA 70360 · (985) 873-4141
- Ochsner St. Anne Hospital ~4608 Louisiana 1, Raceland, LA 70394 · (985) 537-6841
- Lady of the Sea General Hospital ~ 200 W 134th Pl, Cut Off, LA 70345 · (985) 632-6401
