Helping the victim of domestic violence.

Abstract

This paper provides guidelines on how medical providers can help their patients who are victims of domestic violence. A first-hand experience with an abused patient was described and strategies to detect physical abuse were also presented. Among the physical signs observed on a physically abused person are injuries on unusual parts of the body or in central areas (e.g. face neck or throat) fractures that rarely occur by accident and multiple injuries at various stages of healing. Behavioral indicators are often subtle and may include recurrent episodes of injury; repeated visits to health care facilities; complaints of pain without tissue injury; and depression. After recognizing that a patient is a victim of abuse the primary goal of intervention should then be empowerment of the victim. Since most victims are relieved of the opportunity to tell the truth health care professionals should communicate openly with the victim. The victim should also be informed of the local hotline numbers for domestic violence as well as other community resources that they could use.

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