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During the summer of 1994, Monica and her husband legally separated. Due to previous displays of his violent behavior, Monica filed a court order to keep him away from her. However, soon after he moved out, her husband broke into her house and raped her at knife point. Somehow, Monica found an opportunity to call 911 while he was still in the house. After the police arrived on the scene, Monica’s friend took her to the hospital.
Monica went to the hospital in a neighboring town. The doctor who was on-call seemed unsure about how to use a rape kit. Monica, a nurse by profession, had to show the doctor how to use the rape kit to best collect evidence for her case. Although this was an incredibly difficult thing to do, Monica explains, “It helped me regain a sense of control where I previously had no control.”
Following her experience with the doctor, a nurse came in and gave Monica antibiotics without explaining what the antibiotics were for. There was also no discussion of a possible pregnancy as a result of the rape, discussion about sexually transmitted diseases or even victim assistance services during her exam with the nurse. Fortunately, a police officer gave Monica information about services that could help her following a sexual assault.
Although Monica was not concerned about a potential pregnancy because of already having had tubal ligation, she “still cannot believe that there was no mention of emergency contraception or sexually transmitted disease.” It was this experience and Monica’s background as a nurse that led her to work as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). Monica wanted to ensure that other rape survivors at hospital emergency rooms receive all the information they need – including information about emergency contraception. Monica says, “Women do not have to get pregnant as a result of rape.” She believes if survivors and advocates can help raise awareness about EC and get enough women to ask for it, women will not have to experience a pregnancy as a result of a rape.
Monica states, “Women do not have a choice when raped, but they should have a choice about what happens afterwards – whether that means being able to go to a provider or an emergency room for EC. Not every woman might be able to say ‘I’ve been raped,’ but together perhaps we can help every woman know to ask for emergency contraception when we need it."
-New York
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