Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a problem which continues to plague the nation, but through stricter law enforcement, improved hospital reporting technique, nationwide education and counseling, this problem can be reduced. Domestic violence has many names; family violence, battering, wife beating, and domestic abuse. All these terms refer to the same thing, abuse by a marital, common law, or a dating partner in an intimate relationship. Domestic violence is not limited to physical beating. It is any behavior that is intended to overpower and control another human being through the use of humiliation, fear, and physical or verbal assault. Domestic violence is a very important issue in today’s society because it has such a …show more content…

Health care providers therefore can play a vital role in detecting family violence and preventing further damage. Doctors and other health care workers should screen their patients routinely for domestic violence, just as they now screen for conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. In fifteen states, this kind of screening has been successfully used to identify and help victims of domestic violence. By not screening for domestic violence and inquiring about abuse, health care providers often fail to recognize or address the underlying cause of battered women’s health problems. Even when domestic violence results in injuries that were clearly inflicted by another person, health care providers too often treat and record injuries without inquiring about the cause. (Matthews, 311-314) For almost a decade now, a host of national health care organizations and experts have called for more programs that educate health care providers about intimate partner violence and promote routine screening and interventions. The American Medical Association, American Nurses Association, American Psychology Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Pediatrics and most recently, the Institute of Medicine, have all developed guidelines or recommendations for improving providers’ response to family violence. In addition, the family violence