Patients as young as 13, who are victims of sexual assault or rape, no longer need parental permission to receive hospital treatment and for rape kit evidence collection, according to a new law in Washington that went into effect July 1.
Lowering the age of consent to care from, 18 to 13, is part of an effort to recognize and remove the barriers to care while improving and "timely access to sexual assault forensic evidence kit collection and STD care for minors," the Washington State Hospital Association wrote in a July 17 update addressed to hospital chief nursing officers and emergency department directors.
One caveat of the new law: STD care for minors outside of sexual assault situations is only available to individuals who are 14 and older.
All acute care hospitals in the state are also required to "inform patients if the hospital does not provide sexual assault forensic evidence kit collection and have a plan to assist patients to get to a facility that provides sexual assault forensic evidence kit collection," according to the update.
In addition to the new law, an organization called the Crime Victims Compensation Fund will now cover the costs of examinations for patients at Washington hospitals being seen for sexual assault or domestic violence care, regardless of whether the incident happened in the state or elsewhere.