01 / Abstract
Context and purpose.
Genital examination following a possible sexual assault aims to identify and document relevant findings, guide healthcare and preserve evidence. It is not a stand-alone test of whether an offence occurred. This paper examines the relationship between medical findings, interpretation of mechanisms and legal assessment, distinguishing prepubertal children, adolescents and adults. It discusses consent to examination, child protection, the significance of a normal examination, limitations of hymenal interpretation, biological evidence and the wording of conclusions. Its practical recommendations seek to prevent two opposite errors: unjustifiably excluding abuse when injuries are absent and attributing abuse on the basis of nonspecific findings.
The paper distinguishes healthcare from evidence collection and discusses Articles 189–190 of the Romanian Code of Criminal Procedure, patient rights and forensic procedural rules.
02 / Key findings
Conclusions to retain.
- 01A normal examination neither excludes reported sexual contact or assault nor independently confirms abuse.
- 02Consent to examination, medical consent and the legal significance of sexual conduct are distinct.
- 03Examination without consent requires the applicable procedural authority; a referral alone is insufficient.
- 04For minors, representation, accompanying persons and protection from conflicts of interests must be clarified.
- 05Interpretation of the hymen, infections and biological evidence must respect the limitations of the methods.
03 / Structure
What the paper examines.
- 01Aim and method
- 02Three levels that must be distinguished
- 03Legal framework in Romania
- 04Consent, communication and prevention of retraumatisation
- 05Urgency: care and evidence have complementary priorities
- 06Examination adapted to development
- 07What does a normal examination mean?
- 08The hymen and differential diagnosis
- 09Microbiology, biological evidence and traceability
- 10Proposed report structure
- 11Examples of conclusion wording
- 12Discussion and conclusions
04 / Full paper
Read or download.
Read the full English edition, including the tables, conclusions and references.
05 / Citation and use
Suggested reference.
Chiriac S. Forensic genital and anogenital examination in suspected sexual violence and cases involving minors. Critical narrative review. English edition. 21 September 2026. sergheichiriac.ro.
Scientific and educational review material. Substantial reproduction requires acknowledgement of the source; conclusions must be interpreted in the full context of the paper and its references.