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us Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations

What to do if…
a healthcare professional performs intimate touching or an examination without your consent

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

At the earliest safe pause, stop the examination, move away, and ask for another staff member or leave if you safely can. Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or someone is preventing you from leaving; you do not have to decide now whether to report what happened.

Do not do these things

  • Do not remain alone with the healthcare professional if you feel unsafe.
  • Do not force yourself to confront them or obtain an explanation.
  • Do not sign a statement or form you do not understand.
  • Do not assume that freezing, becoming silent, or not physically resisting meant that you freely agreed.
  • Do not pressure yourself to choose a legal or medical label immediately.
  • Do not feel that you must make every healthcare, complaint, or reporting decision now.

What to do now

  1. If the touching or examination is still happening, say “Stop. I do not consent” if you safely can. Move away, cover yourself or get dressed, and ask another staff member to enter or leave the room.

  2. Go to a place where you feel safer, such as a staffed public area, another department, your vehicle, or a location with someone you trust. Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or are being prevented from leaving.

  3. If you have pain, bleeding, an injury, medication concerns, or feel physically unwell, seek prompt care from a different healthcare professional, urgent care center, or emergency department. Ask that the original healthcare professional not be involved in that care.

  4. Contact someone you trust or a sexual assault support service. RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline is available by calling 800-656-HOPE (4673), texting HOPE to 64673, or using its online chat.

  5. If you want help from the facility, ask another staff member whether a supervisor, patient advocate, or other support person is available. You can request a different healthcare professional without deciding now whether to make a formal complaint.

  6. If you might later want to raise a concern, you may privately write down the date, location, names, what was said, and what happened, and keep any appointment or discharge records; this is optional.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now whether to contact law enforcement, complain to the facility or a professional licensing board, seek legal advice, return to that healthcare organization, or tell other people. You also do not need to decide immediately whether to describe what happened as professional misconduct, sexual abuse, or sexual assault.

Important reassurance

Freezing, becoming quiet, complying because you felt trapped, or not objecting immediately does not by itself show that you freely agreed. You are allowed to create distance, seek support, and make later decisions on your own terms.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate safety, urgent medical needs, support, and keeping your options open. Later decisions may require help from a sexual assault advocate, an independent healthcare professional, the facility, the relevant state licensing board, or an attorney.

Important note

This is general information, not medical, legal, therapeutic, or other professional advice. Consent rules, complaint processes, privacy protections, and reporting duties can vary by state, age, capacity, setting, and circumstances. Call 911 for immediate danger or a medical emergency.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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