Murray Calls on Washington State Hospitals to Strengthen Support, Improve Resources for Survivors of Sexual Assault

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee sent a letter to the Washington State Hospital Association expressing her concern that hospitals in Washington state may be failing to provide critical support to survivors of sexual assault. Recent reports indicate that some Washington state hospitals are denying survivors medical forensic examinations (often referred to as "rape kits"), and that it is normal practice for many hospitals to send survivors to other facilities due to lack of resources or trained staff available to treat survivors when they present.

Murray requested an update on what Washington State Hospital Association members are currently doing to support sexual assault survivors, and on what can be done to strengthen support and spread best practices.

"As work continues to combat the widespread threat of sexual assault, it is critical that when survivors seek medical care, they are offered the best information, services, and support available. Unfortunately, I write with deep concern that hospitals across Washington state may be failing to provide survivors with services that are critical to their recovery and to ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable," Murray wrote in the letter. "I believe strongly that our state can and must do more to support survivors of sexual assault…I urge you to take steps to ensure that if a survivor of sexual assault presents in any hospital in our state, they receive the highest quality of care."

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