Get Adult Medical Aid
Urgent medical care is available free of charge whether or not you choose to involve law enforcement. A medical forensic exam, or SANE exam, can be performed by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) – a nurse specially trained to address your needs and concerns, assess for signs and symptoms of injury or medical emergencies, and to document what happened to you and preserve potential evidence.
SANE exam services can include a comprehensive physical examination, collection of potential evidence, photography of injuries and injury documentation, testing and prophylactic treatment for STIs/HIV and pregnancy, and other community referrals. This level of care goes beyond what is typically offered in routine medical settings and can only be provided by a SANE.
If you decide to have a SANE exam, you remain in control throughout and can opt out of any part of the exam, and the SANE will perform the exam at your pace and according to your specific needs and priorities.
Contact the DC Victim Hotline to
- Talk to an Advocate about getting a SANE exam
- Get transportation to the hospital
- Speak with a nurse about medical questions
Where to Go
SANE exams for people aged 18 and older are done at:
MedStar Washington Hospital Center's Emergency Department
110 Irving Street, NW Washington DC 20010
110 Irving Street, NW Washington DC 20010
How to Get There
Get A Free Uber/Lyft
To get a free Uber or Lyft, call or chat the DC Victim Hotline: 844-443-5732 to speak with an Advocate.
Metro Rail
The nearest Metro stop is Brookland/CUA (Catholic University) on the Red Line
Metro Bus
The C-63, C-61, and D-36 buses stop in front of the hospital
Driving
When you get there, look for the brightly colored signs directing you to the garage and use the emergency department entrance.
When You Get There
When you arrive at the hospital and check in, the triage nurse will notify the SANE nurse and the Advocate that you are there. If space is available, the triage nurse will give you a quiet place to wait for the SANE and the Advocate to arrive. If you want to report to the police at that time, a detective will also meet you at the hospital to take a brief statement. You can choose to speak with the detective, wait until you are ready, or not speak with them at all. The choice is yours.
What to Expect
MedStar Washington Hospital Center provides access to a medical forensic exam for victim-survivors of sexual assault and dating or intimate partner violence 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you do not wish to go to MedStar Washington Hospital Center for a SANE exam, all hospital emergency departments in the District are required to provide STI testing and treatment, and pregnancy and HIV prophylaxis to survivors of sexual assault. By law, you can get those services at District emergency departments whether you request or receive a SANE exam or not.
A detective will also meet you at the hospital to take a brief statement. You can choose to speak with the detective, wait until you are ready, or not speak with them at all. The choice is yours.
If you do not wish to go to MedStar Washington Hospital Center for a SANE exam, all hospital emergency departments in the District are required to provide STI testing and treatment, and pregnancy and HIV prophylaxis to survivors of sexual assault. By law, you can get those services at District emergency departments whether you request or receive a SANE exam or not.
A detective will also meet you at the hospital to take a brief statement. You can choose to speak with the detective, wait until you are ready, or not speak with them at all. The choice is yours.
What Happens to Evidence
If/when you report the assault to police, any evidence gathered that requires DNA analysis will be sent to the lab for testing.
If you decided not to report the assault to police, your evidence kit will be held by the DC Forensic Nurse Examiners (DCFNE) for 2 years. If you decide to report to police during that time, your kit will be tested at the lab.
All tests for drug facilitated sexual assault are tested and the results reported to you whether you reported your case to police or not. If you did not report your case to police, the lab will test your toxicology samples without any involvement by police, and the nurse will call you with your results. If you reported to police, the results become evidence in the case, and the detective will contact you with the results.
All tests for drug facilitated sexual assault are tested and the results reported to you whether you reported your case to police or not. If you did not report your case to police, the lab will test your toxicology samples without any involvement by police, and the nurse will call you with your results. If you reported to police, the results become evidence in the case, and the detective will contact you with the results.
Who are the SANE Nurses
DC Forensic Nurse Examiners (DCFNE) is a non-profit organization that seeks to lessen the impact of violence in the District of Columbia by performing trauma-informed medical forensic examinations; providing high-quality evidence collection; and promoting knowledge and understanding among medical providers and the community about medical forensic care.
Things to Consider
Try to preserve possible evidence
Try not to shower, bathe, douche, wash your hands, brush your teeth, comb your hair, use a toilet, eat/drink, smoke, chew gum, or change your clothes.
This may be difficult, but if you do any of the above you may destroy evidence that could be useful to the investigation if you decide to report the crime to police. You can still come in for an exam even if you have done any of these things.
This may be difficult, but if you do any of the above you may destroy evidence that could be useful to the investigation if you decide to report the crime to police. You can still come in for an exam even if you have done any of these things.
Bring someone you trust
If you feel comfortable, bring someone you trust - a friend, family member, roommate, or colleague. When deciding who to bring, ask that person whether they can honor your privacy or if there are limits to the confidentiality they can offer; sometimes Resident Assistants/Advisors (RAs) or university staff members have reporting requirements. There may be times when your chosen support person cannot remain in the room during portions of the SANE exam. A Sexual Assault Victim Advocate can stay with you throughout the entire exam for emotional support, if you choose.
Bring a change of clothes
For your own comfort and to preserve evidence, bring a change of clean clothes and a paper bag filled with any items involved in the incident.