Why Should I Go to the Hospital?
Those who experience sexual assault (particularly non-consensual oral copulation, vaginal, or anal penetration) are urged to seek medical treatment as soon as possible by going to the nearest hospital emergency room, specialized sexual assault treatment and trauma center, or private physician. During this visit, injuries, STI testing, issuance of providing birth control and/or Plan B can be administered.
Transportation can be arranged by Campus Safety, Student Advocate or the Director of Student Health Services during the day Monday-Friday from 8-5 p.m. Transportation after hours is available by calling the Student Advocate at (661) 713-5325. The emergency room nearest the CalArts campus is located at:
Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital
23845 McBean Pkwy.
Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 253-8000
Located closer to the CalArts campus, this hospital does not have the ability to perform sexual assault examinations but can assist survivors in identifying the nearest facilities that do. We recommend you start with the Rape Treatment Center of Santa Monica.
Rape Treatment Center Santa Monica
UCLA Medical Center
1250 Sixteenth Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 319-4000
www.911rape.org | www.rapetreatmentcenter.org
Housed at the UCLA Medical Center, the Rape Treatment Center provides free, sensitive medical treatment, preventive health care and counseling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At the center, survivors of sexual assault have the option of receiving a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam — or SAFE, commonly referred to as a “rape exam” — without filing a police report.
RTC can arrange free transportation to the Center
Harmed persons who promptly seek medical attention benefit from being examined for physical injury, receiving preventative treatment for sexually transmitted infections, a toxicology examination for date rape drugs, and emergency contraception, as appropriate. In addition, prompt reporting allows for the preservation of evidence, which will only be used if the person who experiences sexual misconduct decides, either immediately or later, to press criminal charges or to file a civil lawsuit.
To preserve evidence, those who experience sexual violence should not bathe, douche, smoke, brush their teeth or change clothes (a change of clothes should be brought along).
If clothes have been changed, the original clothes should be put in a paper bag (plastic bags damage evidence) and brought to the hospital. Do not disturb the scene of the assault. If it is not possible to leave the scene undisturbed, evidence (e.g., bedding, towels, loose fabrics, prophylactics, and clothing) should be placed in separate paper bags to be preserved.
Time is a critical factor in collecting and preserving evidence. The physical evidence of an assault is most effectively collected within the first 24-48 hours of the assault, but some evidence may be collected for up to 72-96 hours.
Hospitals and health practitioners that treat any physical injury sustained during a sexual assault are required to report it to law enforcement agencies. The harmed person(s) may choose whether or not to speak to police at the hospital. Also, it is important to understand that one who experiences sexual assault or other forms of sexual misconduct does not need to make an immediate decision to press criminal charges—that decision can be made at a later time.