Medical report (parte de lesiones) and police report after an assault

Terms used

• Parte de lesiones — The parte de lesiones is the doctor's written injury report, which is also sent to the court.
• Juzgado de guardia — The juzgado de guardia is the on-duty court that handles urgent criminal matters, including reports of assault.
• Diligencias — Diligencias are the first investigation steps a court opens after receiving a report of a possible crime.
• Procurador — The procurador is the court representative who files documents and handles paperwork with the court on your behalf.

Key rules

• Order: See a doctor first, then report to the police or court; no law sets this order, but it protects your health and the evidence.
• Parte de lesiones: The doctor sends the parte to the court, so you do not have to.
• Your copy: You get a copy at the time of care, and can request another later with your ID.
• Sexual assault: Do not wash or change clothes until you have had care and reported.

What to do, in short

Get medical care first. Ask the doctor for a parte de lesiones. Then report to the police or the juzgado de guardia as soon as you can, while the evidence is fresh. No legal rule fixes this order, but it is the sensible one. The decision, checklist and questions below cover the steps in more detail.

Medical care and the parte de lesiones

Go to a hospital, health centre or emergency service. This works in public and private facilities. Tell the doctor how you were hurt, so the injuries are recorded as possibly coming from a crime.

When a doctor treats injuries that may come from a crime, the doctor must report to the court. The parte de lesiones is that report. It records your injuries and the doctor's findings.

How the parte reaches court

You do not have to send it. The doctor issues the parte and sends it to the juzgado de guardia, usually electronically or by fax. The court then opens diligencias, which are the first investigation steps.

You receive a copy of the parte at the time of care. Keep it safe. You will need it for your police statement and for any lawyer.

How to get a copy later

If you lost the copy, or did not get one:

• Ask the medical records or admission office of the centre that treated you. Take your ID.
• Once a case is open, ask your lawyer or the procurador to request it from the court.
• For your full medical records, use the health service's patient access procedure.

Reporting to the police

Report to the police or go to the juzgado de guardia as soon as possible. Take your copy of the parte with you.

If the injuries are serious, call 112. Police will then attend the scene.

After a sexual assault, do not wash or change clothes before you get care and report. This protects the evidence.

Choosing between options

Should you get medical care or report to the police first?

• Medical care first: Fits almost always: get urgent care at once and ask for the parte de lesiones, which also reaches the court.

• Police first: Fits only when the injuries are serious and you call 112, so police attend the scene and help you get care.

Checklist

• Get urgent medical care at once, at a hospital, health centre or emergency service.

• Ask the doctor for the parte de lesiones, the injury report that also goes to the court.

• Ask for a later copy of the parte from the medical records or admission office, with your ID.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to send the parte de lesiones to the court myself?

No, the doctor who treats you must report the injuries to the court, so you do not send the parte yourself. The doctor issues the parte and sends it, usually electronically or by fax, to the juzgado de guardia (the duty court), which opens diligencias (a preliminary case file). You still get your own copy at the time of care.

How can I get a copy of the parte de lesiones later?

You can ask the medical records or admission office of the centre that treated you, and you must bring ID. Once a case is open, your lawyer or the procurador (the court representative) can also request it from the court. You can also ask for your medical records through the health service's patient access procedure.

Should I call 112 if my injuries are serious?

Yes, call 112 if your injuries are serious, because police can attend the scene. Get urgent medical care at once and ask for the parte de lesiones, then report to the police or the juzgado de guardia as soon as you can.