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We're Here For You Canada
When someone goes to a hospital after a sexual assault, their clothing may be collected as evidence during a forensic exam.
And in many hospitals across Canada, there is no standardized program to replace those clothes.
That means some survivors leave wearing hospital gowns, paper scrubs, oversized donated items, or whatever the hospital can piece together at the moment.
It’s a reality that shocks many Canadians — but it reflects a systemic gap in post-assault care.
Let’s talk about why this happens.
Why Is Clothing Taken During a Forensic Exam?
If a survivor chooses to have a forensic exam (often called a “rape kit”), clothing worn during or after the assault may contain evidence.
Hospitals follow evidence-handling protocols to preserve potential forensic material. That can include:
- Collecting clothing
- Storing it securely
- Transferring it to law enforcement if a report is made
This process is standard practice in forensic medicine across Canada. But once clothing is taken, something else must happen. And that’s where the gap begins.
So Why Don’t Hospitals Just Provide Replacement Clothing?
The short answer: most hospitals are not funded or mandated to provide clothing after forensic exams.
Canadian healthcare systems are structured to deliver:
- Emergency medical care
- Forensic evidence collection
- Immediate treatment and referrals
They are not typically resourced for what could be called “last-mile dignity needs” — including:
- New clothing
- Toiletries
- Comfort items
- Transportation support
There is no national standard requiring hospitals to provide post-exam clothing.
As a result, what a survivor receives depends entirely on:
- The hospital’s internal resources
- Local donations
- Informal staff efforts
- Community partnerships (if they exist)
Some hospitals do their best with what they have. Others simply do not have structured programs in place. This inconsistency is not about lack of compassion. It’s about structural gaps.
The System Was Designed for Procedure — Not Dignity
Hospitals are built around clinical protocols.
Forensic exams are designed to:
- Document evidence
- Preserve chain of custody
- Provide medical treatment
They are not designed around what a survivor feels when walking out the door.
But that moment matters. After an exam that may take hours, a survivor may be:
- Physically exhausted
- Emotionally overwhelmed
- Processing shock or trauma
Leaving in paper scrubs or a hospital gown can deepen feelings of exposure and vulnerability.
Dignity is not a luxury. It is part of trauma-informed care.
Is This a Canada-Wide Issue?
Yes — and it varies by region.
There is currently no standardized, national post-assault clothing program in Canada.
Some hospitals may provide:
- Paper scrubs
- Disposable garments
- Donated clothing from community bins
Others rely on staff to improvise in the moment…Because the system does not formally address this need, experiences vary widely across provinces and facilities.
That inconsistency is exactly the systemic gap.
Why This Gap Matters
Clothing may seem small compared to medical care. But trauma-informed care recognizes that small moments can significantly impact emotional recovery.
Leaving a hospital:
- Clothed in something clean
- Warm
- Properly fitting
- New
Sends a very different message than leaving in disposable scrubs.
One communicates completion of a procedure. The other communicates restoration of dignity. And dignity is not optional.
The Role of Community-Based Solutions
Because this gap is not formally funded within hospital systems, community organizations have stepped in across parts of Canada to provide structured support.
That’s where We’re Here For You Canada exists.
WHFYC works in partnership with hospitals to provide trauma-informed comfort kits that include:
- New, gender-inclusive clothing
- Basic toiletries
- Comfort items
- Gift cards for food or transportation
- Resource information
The goal is not to replace medical care. The goal is to bridge the gap between healthcare procedure and human dignity.
Hospitals provide medical treatment. WHFYC ensures survivors leave clothed, supported, and respected.
This Isn’t About Blame — It’s About Reform
Healthcare teams across Canada work under significant resource constraints. Nurses and clinicians consistently express a desire to offer more — but lack dedicated funding and supply systems for clothing programs.
The issue is structural, not personal. That’s why this conversation matters.
Until dignity care becomes a national standard, survivors will continue to experience inconsistent discharge support. And that is something we can change.
Dignity Is Essential Healthcare
A forensic exam addresses evidence. Medical care addresses physical health.
But care and comfort address the human experience of trauma.
No survivor should leave a hospital feeling exposed or unsupported because the system didn’t account for clothing.
This is not just about charity. It is about completing the circle of care to allow survivors to move toward healing.
How You Can Help Close the Gap
Because this need is not publicly funded, it relies on community support. Every $85 funds a comfort kit delivered directly through hospital partnerships.
If you believe dignity should be part of post-assault care in Canada: Dignity Is Not Optional. Sponsor a kit today.
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