Seeking Confidential Medical Assistance in the United States
Experiencing any form of violence or sexual misconduct is difficult and overwhelming. Survivors often experience a range of emotions, including fear, anxiety, and confusion, and may be unsure of what they want to, or should, do next. Regardless of whether the individual chooses to report the incident, the University strongly encourages survivors of any form of violence to seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if they feel no injury was sustained. Medical assistance providers can treat visible physical injuries and identify injuries that may not be visible, and, where appropriate, also address concerns regarding sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, and provide emergency contraception (if requested). In addition, a hospital can test for the presence of alcohol or drugs (e.g., "date rape" drugs) and perform a rape evidence collection procedure (see Section III(D)(2)), which are also strongly recommended to preserve all legal remedies.
As noted above, the Medical Resources in Sections III(B) are also confidential resources and are not obligated to disclose reports of sexual misconduct to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance (under any circumstance) or law enforcement (except in very limited situations, such as when failure to disclose the information would result in imminent danger to the individual or to others or as otherwise required by law).
Medical Services Available On or Near the Evanston and Chicago Campuses
Under Illinois law, medical personnel are required to alert police when it reasonably appears that the person requesting treatment has sustained an injury as a victim of a criminal offense, including sexual assault or violence, but individuals have the right to refuse to speak to police.
Evidence collection kit cannot be provided; CSAW staff can be contacted to provide support services, if desired. (See Section II(A) for more information on CSAW.)
All staff in University Health Services (including team athletic trainers and team physicians) and staff in the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness are considered confidential resources.
For information regarding seeking medical assistance at the Doha, Qatar (NU-Q) campus, please see Appendix A. Appendix A contains a complete summary of information regarding reporting sexual misconduct and receiving support (including confidential support) at the NU-Q campus.