Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 36-51 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Sociology of Health and Illness |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 18 Dec 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2019 |
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Keywords
- forensic medical examination
- rape
- sexual assault
- boundaries
- medico-legal
- doctors
- nurses
- gender
Cite this
}
Boundary‐making in the medico‐legal context: examining doctor–nurse dynamics in post‐sexual assault forensic medical intervention. / McMillan, Lesley; White, Deborah.
In: Sociology of Health and Illness, Vol. 41, No. 1, 01.2019, p. 36-51.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Boundary‐making in the medico‐legal context: examining doctor–nurse dynamics in post‐sexual assault forensic medical intervention
AU - McMillan, Lesley
AU - White, Deborah
N1 - Acceptance in SAN AAM: 12m embargo
PY - 2019/1
Y1 - 2019/1
N2 - A key dimension of the institutional response to sexual assault is the forensic medical examination of a victim's body conducted for purpose of documenting, collecting and testifying to corroborative evidence. Drawing upon in-depth interviews with forensic examiners and forensic nurse practitioners in one region of England, this study addresses a gap in the existing research on medico-legal processes, and critically examines the nature and dynamics of the relationship between doctors and nurses involved in this intervention. Using an analytic framework based on Thomas Gieryn's notion of ‘boundary-work’, we explore how this historically gendered dyadic relationship is experienced and understood in a context influenced by both medicine and law. We demonstrate very clear boundaries demarcating (i) physicians as experts and nurses as non-experts in the collection and representation of medical evidence, and, (ii) physicians as equated with technical competence and nurses with ‘caring’ duties. We conclude by positing implications that may stem from these professional relations with respect to sexual assault evidence, professionals and victims.
AB - A key dimension of the institutional response to sexual assault is the forensic medical examination of a victim's body conducted for purpose of documenting, collecting and testifying to corroborative evidence. Drawing upon in-depth interviews with forensic examiners and forensic nurse practitioners in one region of England, this study addresses a gap in the existing research on medico-legal processes, and critically examines the nature and dynamics of the relationship between doctors and nurses involved in this intervention. Using an analytic framework based on Thomas Gieryn's notion of ‘boundary-work’, we explore how this historically gendered dyadic relationship is experienced and understood in a context influenced by both medicine and law. We demonstrate very clear boundaries demarcating (i) physicians as experts and nurses as non-experts in the collection and representation of medical evidence, and, (ii) physicians as equated with technical competence and nurses with ‘caring’ duties. We conclude by positing implications that may stem from these professional relations with respect to sexual assault evidence, professionals and victims.
KW - forensic medical examination
KW - rape
KW - sexual assault
KW - boundaries
KW - medico-legal
KW - doctors
KW - nurses
KW - gender
U2 - 10.1111/1467-9566.12807
DO - 10.1111/1467-9566.12807
M3 - Article
VL - 41
SP - 36
EP - 51
IS - 1
ER -