New Brunswick expands sexual assault nurse examiner program after victim refusal incident

Fredericton, New Brunswick, April 26 (Reuters) — Health authorities in the Canadian province of New Brunswick announced the expansion of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program, in a move aimed at improving the response to emergency cases, nearly four years after an incident sparked widespread controversy when a victim was unable to receive an immediate forensic examination.
The health authorities said the expansion includes increasing the number of specialized nurses and enhancing coverage, allowing the service to be provided over a wider time frame, amid previous criticism of the system's reliance on on-call availability rather than permanent presence.
The incident, dating back to 2022, highlighted gaps in the care system after the victim was asked to return later due to the unavailability of qualified staff to conduct the forensic evidence collection examination, a crucial procedure in documenting assaults and supporting investigations.
Through these measures, the authorities seek to ensure the service is more consistently available and in wider areas within the province, at a time when specialists emphasize that the speed of conducting the examination plays a fundamental role in preserving evidence and supporting victims.
This move comes amid ongoing calls from organizations and experts to enhance medical and legal support services for sexual assault victims and to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future.