It is only natural to be disturbed and disgusted by this example of man's inhumanity to man, but I do not tell this story for sympathy. I intend it as a call to action. Often, when colleagues learn of my continued work with sexual assault survivors, many respond with distanced admiration or sympathetic references about how depressing my experiences must be. However, the work is anything but reserved for a talented select few. Too many of us feel that the problem is either too great or possibly nonexistent in the population with whom we work.
Rape extends beyond all boundaries of sex, economic status and race.
As physicians, students and citizens, we must fight our tendency to categorize sexual assault based on a person's background or circumstance. Even when unaccompanied by physical violence, and whether the victim is a prostitute in a dark alley or a college student on a date, rape is a crime of violation. Although the statistics of rape may seem overwhelming, so do those of heart disease, depression and diabetes. Just as we, physicians in all levels of training, persevere against those conditions in our clinics and offices daily, we should persevere against sexual assault. We should become familiar with local sexual assault services.