AFN National Conference
Virtual Conference
Advancing the Global Practice of Forensic Healthcare
November 6–7, 2025
Coming Soon!
CONFERENCE AGENDA
14:00–15:00 ET
Examining the Ethics & Methodology of Forensic Photography of Child Sexual Abuse Survivors
Presenter:
Rachel Thomas
Summary:
The field of forensic nursing has advanced significantly over the past three decades. Forensic nurses play a crucial role in documenting forensic exams and collecting evidence to support survivors, many of whom are children who have experienced sexual abuse. A key component of these exams is forensic photography, which has become standard practice in child sexual abuse evaluations. This process often involves capturing multiple images or video recordings of sensitive areas of children’s bodies—an experience they may not fully understand and could find confusing or traumatic. This quality improvement project examines the ethical considerations of photographing all child sexual abuse exams, given that research consistently shows genital injuries are typically absent—even in cases of repeated abuse or abuse by older perpetrators. The central questions are: Should forensic nurses routinely take photographs in cases where no medically significant findings are expected? If photography is deemed necessary, what ethical and trauma-informed care principles should guide the process? Through a scoping review of the literature, this project evaluates best practices in forensic genital photography and child sexual abuse exams based on research in child abuse and forensic nursing. The overarching goal is to promote greater consistency in forensic genital photography practices among nurses conducting child sexual abuse exams—beginning with informed consent and continuing through the entire process, including debriefing and photo management.
Continuing Education Disclosure
Purpose:
The purpose for the conference is two-fold. First, nurses, forensic nurses, and other health care providers need current, evidence-based education at the novice and the advanced level in order to promote innovative application of practice and research in the multidisciplinary work with victims of violence across the lifespan. Second, novice and expert forensic providers need opportunities to highlight and share their innovative EBP. To meet this purpose, novice and expert presenters from the U.S. and Internationally – four U.S. regions (East, Central, Mountain, Pacific/Alaska/Hawaii) and international – were chosen for this two-day conference.
Criteria for Successful Completion:
Participants will attend live on November 6 & 7, 2025. Recordings will be available one week after the live session and will be available for asynchronous viewing through February 7, 2026.
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Participants will need to attend a minimum of 90% of each presentation session that they wish to obtain credit for and complete an attestation/verification statement of attendance.
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Upon completion of live date attendance, a CE certificate for up to 12.25 contact hours will be awarded. This is commensurate with participation.
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Live and asynchronous attendees will be confirmed by combination of Zoom attendance reports and attestation statements. Completion of a post-attendance survey is also expected.
Disclosures:
There is no relevant financial disclosure with ineligible companies for any program planner or presenter involved with this activity.
The Academy of Forensic Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development with by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.