The (in)significance of genital injury in rape and sexual assault
Evidence of genital injury has traditionally played a significant role in the prosecution of rape and sexual assault. This presentation, based on the author's August 2015 publication in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine (Volume 34, pages 173-178) takes a critical look at the research, in the context of modern understandings of what actually constitutes rape and sexual assault. He concludes that both consenting and non-consenting sexual contact may or may not result in genital injury, and that there is insufficient evidence to make robust conclusions associating presence, absence, nature or severity of genital injury with the issue of consent.
Dr Graeme Walker is a Forensic Physician and General Practitioner working in the north of Scotland.
He provides forensic and medical care to complainers and suspects of sexual offences at the request of Police Scotland, on behalf of NHS Highland. His interest in clinical forensic medicine began in 2013 and he has since gained full Membership of the Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of London. In 2014, Dr Walker completed the prestigious and comprehensive training course "Forensic and Medical Examination for Rape & Sexual Assault" at St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester, during which time he undertook the academic work which resulted in the publication of a paper on genital injury following rape,
to be presented at this conference.