SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC ASSAULT potx

877

SEXUAL ASSAULT (RAPE)

The legal definition of rape varies from state to state, but for med￾ical purposes, rape is physical assault or penetration of the geni￾tal, oral, or anal cavities by the assailant’s body or foreign object

with force or without consent of the victim. Thus, in medical envi￾ronments, rape is better termed sexual assault. Sexual assault is

perpetrated primarily against women or children. Far fewer rape

victims are males. Rape is increasing, especially the number of eld￾erly victims. Although it is a felony and the perpetrator is known

to the victim in 80% of cases, only 20% of rapes are reported to

the police. The relative lifetime risk that a woman will be raped is

over 15%. Most rapes occur in the victim’s home (50%) or neigh￾borhood (80%).

Rape is perpetrated by men ,25 years old in 45% of cases. Many

rapists have serious psychologic or sociologic problems and rape

to terrify, humiliate, and degrade rather than to achieve sexual grat￾ification (as evidenced by the high rate of nonejaculation). The av￾erage rapist has committed many rapes before being apprehended.

Rape can be divided into three categories: power rape (
50%),

anger rape (40%), and sadistic rape (5%).

Power rape is usually premeditated. Included in this category

are multiple assailant rapes and date rape. The latter may involve

the use of alcohol or the drug flunitrazepam (Rohypnol). Rohyp￾nol is readily available as a “street drug” and affects the woman’s

ability to anticipate or ward off an attack. Additionally, there is

some amnestic effect. The perpetrator is often a young male who

wants to show his dominance over the victim, occasionally resort￾ing to kidnap and multiple assaults. Serious physical injury of

the victim is not typical, but is more likely with multiple assailant

rapes.

32

SEXUAL AND

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

CHAPTER

Copyright 2001 The McGraw-Hill Companies. Click Here for Terms of Use.