DCFNE Featured on WUSA9: "Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners voice concern about victims during coronavirus pandemic."

An excerpt from the article, published on April 9, 2020, can be viewed below:

Video taken in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic shows chaotic scenes in hospital emergency rooms. Now, imagine you're a victim of sexual assault coming to the hospital for help in the midst of all this. Advocates are concerned about survivors during this crisis.

DC Forensic Nurse Examiners help victims of sexual assault throughout the District.

"Some of the message that 'violence is an emergency' has been kind of lost in translation," Erin Pollitt, executive director, said.

The confusion that message causes could be an unintended consequence of the chaos of a global pandemic.

"Patients are being told to stay away from the emergency department unless they are dying," Pollitt said.

So some sexual assault victims may not go to a hospital, which could mean they don't get critical care or have evidence collected if they want to pursue criminal charges for what's happened to them.

Read the full article HERE.