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El Paso hospital suggests other hospitals for rape kit exams

An El Paso center for sexual assault victims says about 15 victims have told them they were turned away while seeking a rape kit exam at a local hospital, but hospital officials say they're simply providing victims with the option of going to hospitals better equipped for such patients.

Virginia Rueda of the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence tells the El Paso Times (http://bit.ly/2eovsDX) that patients at Del Sol Medical Center are told to go to another hospital and discharged.

State law mandates that all hospitals with emergency rooms provide basic training for nurses to administer a rape kit.

A Del Sol official says they comply with that law. The official adds that while they suggest victims go to a hospital with more expertise, patients can choose to stay.

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Information from: El Paso Times, http://www.elpasotimes.com

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.