Problem of Pregnancy in Sexual Assaults

Sexual assault and rape have serious consequences regarding health and law with physical and psychological outcomes of the problem. Pregnancy after rape, potential delay of diagnosis, physical and psychological injuries that might ocur as a consequence necessitate a multidisciplinary work of the medicolegal and ethical aspects of the subject. A case of pregnancy after rape who was in the 20th week of gestation has been evaluated by the Departments of Forensic Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Physchiatry. Clinical aspects of this presented case with a diagnosis of "post traumatic stress disorder, major depression and epileptic psychosis" have been considered to support consistency of her pregnancy with alleged rape history. In the article, termination of pregnancy with respect to the amended Turkish Penal Code and other existing laws, principles of legal and medical approach by the specialists of the related branches of medicine to the cases of pregnancy after sexual assault and rape have been discussed. The well defined collaboration of clinicians with medicolegal experts in scope of clinical forensic medicine will guide any medical procedure for legitimization as well as to support judicial procedure by providing safeguards for collecting samples, and expected security of evidence needed

Attitudes among judiciary and junior clerks toward the survivors of childhood sexual abuse

Childhood sexual abuse is a growing concern throughout the world, although the legal sequelae of this phenomenon are frequently neglected. We aimed to reveal and compare the attitudes of judiciary and junior clerks toward sexually abused children that might contribute to these sequelae. We divided 302 study participants into two groups of judiciary members and junior clerks. All the participants were asked to anonymously complete a questionnaire about stigmatization, including questions assessing social distance, dangerousness and skillfulness. In their responses, 51.2% of the judiciary and 64.0% of the junior clerks displayed a negative attitude toward "asking a childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivor to supervise their child for few hours" (p = 0.029). When asked "What would you think if your child wanted to marry a CSA survivor?" 76.5% of the judiciary and 84.1% of the junior clerks were opposed to the idea (p = 0.095). Interestingly, significantly more judiciary than junior clerks believed that a "CSA survivor can control his/her rage" (p = 0.001), and significantly more of the junior clerks did not believe that "CSA survivors do not behave impulsively" (p = 0.034). Both groups of legal professionals in this study appear to distance themselves from or have negative thoughts about CSA survivors, particularly when the issue involves their own children and/or social situations. Along with other factors, these negative assumptions might also contribute to lower prosecution rates and retestifying procedures. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Descriptive Features of Depressive Disorder Patients with who Have Committed Suicide by Drug Overdose

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the drugs of choice, the preferred routes of administration and the time to death among depressive disorder patients who have committed suicide by drug overdose

Differences in Handwritings of Schizophrenia Patients and Examination of the Change after Treatment

The aim of this study was to analyze the differences between the handwritings of schizophrenia patients and healthy subjects in addition to the changes that occurred in schizophrenia patients' handwriting in response to the treatment. The test subjects were 29 schizophrenia patients and 29 healthy individuals with the same age, gender, and dominant hand. The changes in the handwritings were examined according to 14 different parameters. On the day of admittance, the percentage of extra letters was 16.7%, and after 7-10 days of hospitalization, it rose to 33.3%. The percentage of skipped words decreased from 29.2% to 16.7% after 7-10 days of hospitalization, and to 10% after 3 weeks. The letters written by schizophrenia patients are significantly larger in height and width compared to the control group. The schizophrenia patients showed a higher incidence of crossed-out letters, adding extra words, missing punctuation as well as missing words

Management of lower urinary tract dysfunction in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and Turkish consensus report

WOS: 000326027700002PubMed ID: 23757108AimsSince lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) related to multiple sclerosis (MS) has a different behavior pattern than other types of neurogenic voiding dysfunction, we aimed to prepare a national consensus report for the management of LUTD due to multiple sclerosis in light of available literature. MethodsA search of available databases yielded an evidence base of 125 articles after the application of inclusion/exclusion criteria. When sufficient evidence existed, recommendations A (high), B (moderate), or C (low) were made according to the strength of evidence; recommendation D was provided when insufficient evidence existed. ResultsAvailable data did not support the use of invasive urodynamics in the initial evaluation of patients with MS and LUTD. Clinical studies on the safety and efficacy of antimuscarinics and alpha-blockers in these patients were scarce and low quality. Desmopressin could be used in MS-related overactive bladder symptoms owing to its short-term effects as an adjunctive treatment. Intravesical botulinum toxin type A treatment in patients with MS and detrusor overactivity was recommended in cases of medical treatment failure or severe side effects due to antimuscarinics. Pelvic floor rehabilitation together with neuromuscular electrical stimulation was also recommended as it increased symptomatic treatment success. This systematic review was not able to find any evidence-based cut off post-void residual value for the recommendation to start clean intermittent catheterization in MS-related LUTD. ConclusionsPatients with MS and LUTD could be best managed through the use of this consensus report. Neurourol. Urodynam. 32:1047-1057, 2013. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc