Pubdate: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 Source: Kenora Daily Miner And News (CN ON) Copyright: 2005 Kenora Daily Miner and News Contact: http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/855 Author: S. Patrick Moore NEW PROGRAM FOR DATE RAPE DRUG VICTIMS Lake of the Woods District Hospital and six other Ontario hospitals are piloting a project to provide care and support for those who believe they were drugged and sexually assaulted. Lake of the Woods District Hospital and six other Ontario hospitals are piloting a project to provide care and support for those who believe they were drugged and sexually assaulted. The hospital has had a sexual assault and domestic violence care centre for 10 years. But this one-year pilot project paid for by the Ontario Women's Health Council intends to find the best approach on how to care for drugged and violated individuals. "Often times these people can't remember," Kathleen Fitzgerald, co-ordinator of the hospital's sexual assault care centre, said. "We try to help the person understand what may or may not have happened." The centre takes a urine sample and a swab from the effected orifice. This is then sent to an independent laboratory for analysis, which can find trace amounts of drugs and reports either a positive or negative find to the care centre; it does not indicate concentrations. The presence of male DNA is also sought. Meanwhile, a forensic kit is used to collect medical evidence from the client's body and clothing to assist legal proceedings, should there be any. But the clinic holds the kit until results are back and the client decides on his or her actions. Fitzgerald said people are reluctant to talk to police when they are unsure of what transpired. "This (testing) helps a person from an emotional and psychological point of view. It lets them know, 'OK this did happen'." If the results indicate a drug's presence, the individual decides if she or he wants the police involved. If yes, the police are called and the evidence kit is supplied. Prior to this project, the hospital's lab could only detect drugs within six to eight hours after the event. The independent lab is able to find trace elements and has a timeframe of about 72 hours. Date rape drugs, as they're commonly called, include Rohypnol and other nefarious pills, powders and liquids. Rohypnol, or "roofies", emerged in Florida in 1993 and rapists have since used it to complete their heinous activity. Fitzgerald said most women who visit the centre are victims of involuntary alcohol intake. But past cases raised suspicions of drug involvement but testing could not confirm or deny it, Fitzgerald said. The Kenora Police recorded 12 sexual assaults in 2004 and 12, to date, in 2005. Kenora was chosen along with some southern hospitals to provide fair representation since it's northern and relatively remote. Seven clinics are part of the project because it allows for easier adjustments and adjudication of the program. There are 34 sexual assault clinics operating in Ontario hospitals. "We're hopeful the protocol will be used province wide to help," Fitzgerald said. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin