Content warning: This episode discusses intimate partner violence and non-fatal strangulation.

Non-fatal strangulation is common in intimate partner violence—and one of the most dangerous, misunderstood, and minimized forms of assault in Canada. Survivors often present with no visible injuries, yet face serious and sometimes delayed risks, including vascular injury, traumatic brain injury, and stroke.

In this episode of Beyond the Rape Kit: Canada’s Forensic Frontline, Forensic Nurse Practitioner Hannah Varto sits down with Dr. Michael Ellis, a neurologist specializing in cerebrovascular injury and traumatic brain injury in the context of IPV. Together, they go beyond guidelines to examine what actually happens in emergency departments, clinics, and courts—and why systems continue to miss the warning signs.

Through a real-world patient journey, Dr. Ellis breaks down the clinical realities of non-fatal strangulation: subtle symptoms, assessment challenges, missed diagnoses, and the devastating consequences when injuries are dismissed. The conversation explores red flags clinicians must not ignore, imaging and treatment decisions, long-term neurological outcomes, and how inadequate documentation undermines justice in court.

A must-listen for clinicians, forensic professionals, advocates, legal practitioners, and anyone committed to survivor safety and accountability.

Beyond the Guidelines: Ignoring Non-Fatal Strangulation by Canada’s Frontline - Episode 3

In this episode, forensic nurse practitioner Hannah Varto speaks with Christie Paschakis, founder of SOAR Initiative Canada and Ontario Says NO MORE, to examine the key nuances and implications emerging from the Hockey Canada trial.

Beyond the Verdict: The Hockey Canada Trial - Episode 2


Content Warning: Explicit descriptions of violence against women. In this episode of Beyond the Rape Kit: Canada’s Forensic Frontline, we speak with Karen Mason of Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research (SOAR) for a grounded and thoughtful discussion about femicide in Canada, its patterns, its preventable nature, and the systemic factors that allow gender-based violence to continue.

Discussing Femicide in Canada with Karen Mason - Episode 1

Welcome to Beyond the Rape Kit, the official podcast of the Canadian Forensic Nurses Association (CFNA). In this introductory episode, host Hannah Varto sets the stage for a series exploring the realities of forensic nursing in Canada—where healthcare, law, and trauma-informed care meet.

Beyond the Rape Kit: Canada’s Forensic Frontline – Intro Episode

Forensic nursing is more than just evidence collection. It includes trauma-informed, compassionate care, clinical documentation, and collaboration with law enforcement and legal professionals. Through this podcast, the Canadian Forensic Nurses Association aims to provide education, share expertise, and promote best practices across the country.

Canadian Forensic Nurses Association

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