Nova Scotia Health has ceased its provision of a specialized nurse for non-sexually assaulted victims of intimate partner violence due to unintended consequences within the legal system. The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program (SANE), which began in 2000, recently expanded to include cases of intimate partner violence without sexual assault involvement. This extension allowed victims of intimate partner violence to consult with specially trained sexual assault nurse examiners, regardless of any sexual assault. However, this approach led to challenges in court proceedings, as highlighted by Janelle Comeau, Nova Scotia Health’s director of violence prevention intervention and response program.
Comeau explained that discrepancies arose when victims provided statements to both nurses and law enforcement, causing issues for survivors in court. The collection of DNA evidence in cases lacking sexual assault was also deemed unnecessary, as victims typically knew their intimate partner, the alleged perpetrator. The program, which supported approximately 20 individuals, accounted for only six percent of the nurses’ workload. Following feedback from partners, including the public prosecution service, the trauma-informed approach of the nurses was found to inadvertently cause trauma in courtrooms.
The initiative, encompassing intimate partner violence cases without sexual assault, concluded in December. Dawn Ferris, executive director of the Cumberland County Transition House Association, acknowledged the rationale behind this decision, recognizing the potential harm caused by discrepancies in victims’ statements during legal proceedings. Ferris expressed a desire to retain certain supportive elements from the program, such as prompt access to privacy for intimate partner violence patients upon hospital arrival.
Ferris emphasized the ongoing need to explore additional ways to assist women in light of the persisting epidemic of domestic violence. Despite the discontinuation of the specific program, Comeau assured that victims of intimate partner violence without sexual assault would still receive necessary community support. She clarified that there have been no reductions in funding or staff for SANE, with the nurses continuing their focus on aiding sexual assault victims.
The focus, according to Ferris, should be on improving existing systems to be more trauma-informed, given the prevalence of domestic violence and the increased demand for support services.