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June 14, 1995, Vol 273, No. 22 >
ARTICLE | June 14, 1995

Laws Mandating Reporting of Domestic Violence: Title and subTitle BreakDo They Promote Patient Well-being? FREE

Ariella Hyman, JD; Dean Schillinger, MD; Bernard Lo, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

Reprint requests to University of California, San Francisco, Room C 126, 521 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143-0903 (Dr Lo).

Health Law and Ethics section editors: Lawrence O. Gostin, JD, the Georgetown/ Johns Hopkins Program on Law and Public Health, Washington, DC, and Baltimore, Md; Helene M. Cole, MD, Contributing Editor, JAMA.


JAMA. 1995;273(22):1781-1787. doi:10.1001/jama.1995.03520460063037
Text Size: A A A
Published online
Article
References

DOMESTIC violence is increasingly recognized as a major public health problem, affecting individuals of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Domestic violence has been defined as a pattern of coercive control consisting of physical, sexual, and/or psychological assaults against current or former intimate partners.1 Batterers also commonly use economic abuse, isolation, and intimidation to exert power over their partners. This article often refers to the battering of women, since 90% to 95% of domestic violence victims are women.2 Domestic violence also can occur against men and in homosexual as well as heterosexual relationships.3,4

Approximately 4 million women are believed to be battered every year by their partners.5 At least one fifth of all women will be physically assaulted by a partner or ex-partner during their lifetime.6 Domestic violence is believed to be the most common cause of serious injury to women7 and accounts for more

REFERENCES

1 +
Flitcraft AH, Hadley SM, Hendricks-Matthews MK, McLeer SV, Warshaw C. Diagnostic and Treatment Guidelines on Domestic Violence . Chicago, Ill: American Medical Association; 1992;.
2 +
Bureau of Justice Statistics. Violence Between Intimates . Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, US Dept of Justice; November 1994;. Publication NCJ-149259.
3 +
Renzetti CM.  Violence in lesbian relationships: a preliminary analysis of causal factors. J Interpersonal Violence . 1988;;3:381-399.
4 +
Letellier P.  Identifying and treating battered gay men. San Francisco Med . 1994;;67:16-19.
5 +
Sassetti MR.  Domestic violence. Prim Care . 1993;;20:289-305.
6 +
Straus M, Gelles R, Steinmetz SK. Behind Closed Doors: A Survey of Family Violence in America . New York, NY: Doubleday & Co Inc; 1980;.
7 +
Stark E, Flitcraft A.  Violence among intimates: an epidemiological review.  In: Van Hasselt VB, Morrison RL, Bellack AS, Hersen M, eds. Handbook of Family Violence . New York, NY: Plenum Press; 1988;:293-318.
8 +
Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute for Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, based on data from Federal Bureau of Investigation. Uniform Crime Reports . Washington, DC: US Dept of Justice; 1982;, 1988-1991.
9 +
Family Violence Prevention Fund. A Study of Family and Domestic Violence Homicide Cases in San Francisco . San Francisco, Calif: San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women, Family Violence Prevention Fund; October 1993;.
10 +
Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association.  Violence against women: relevance for medical practitioners. JAMA . 1992;;267:3184-3189.
11 +
Novello AC.  A medical response to domestic violence. JAMA . 1992;;267: 3132.
12 +
American Medical Association. Health and Justice: Conference Proceedings . National Conference on Family Violence; March 11-13, 1994;; Washington, DC.
13 +
Gin NE, Rucker L, Frayne S, Cygan R, Hubbell FA.  Prevalence of domestic violence among patients in three ambulatory care internal medicine clinics. J Gen Intern Med . 1991;;6:317-322.
14 +
Hamberger LK, Saunders DG, Hovey M.  Prevalence of domestic violence in community practice and rate of physician inquiry. Fam Med . 1992;;24:283-287.
15 +
Helton AS, McFarlane J, Anderson ET.  Battered and pregnant: a prevalence study. Am J Public Health . 1987;;77:1337-1339.
16 +
McLeer SV, Anwar R.  A study of battered women presenting in an emergency department. Am J Public Health . 1989;;79:65-66.
17 +
Sugg NK, Inui T.  Primary care physician response to domestic violence: opening Pandora's box. JAMA . 1992;;267:3157-3160.
18 +
Jecker NS.  Privacy beliefs and the violent family. JAMA . 1993;;269:776-780.
19 +
Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association.  Physicians and domestic violence: ethical considerations. JAMA . 1992;;267: 3190-3193.
20 +
Family Violence Prevention Fund. National Health Initiative on Domestic Violence National Advisory/Experts Committee Meeting Notes . San Francisco, Calif: Family Violence Prevention Fund; January 1994;.
21 +
Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, Washington, Wyoming.
22 +
Eg, Arkansas, Kansas.
23 +
Eg, Kentucky, New Mexico.
24 +
Eg, RI Gen Laws §12-29-9 (Supp 1993); Conn Gen Stat §46b-38e (Repealed 1991).
25 +
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
26 +
Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
27 +
Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee.
28 +
Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon.
29 +
Miss Code Ann §93-21-1 to 25 (Supp 1993); 23 Pa Cons Stat Ann §§6102, 6115 (1991).
30 +
Eg, Kansas, New Hampshire, South Dakota.
31 +
Eg, Alaska, Colorado, Missouri, Oregon.
32 +
Eg, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Tennessee.
33 +
Kentucky, New Mexico.
34 +
Eg, North Dakota.
35 +
Eg, Massachusetts, New Hampshire.
36 +
Kentucky, New Mexico, Rhode Island Gen Laws §12-29-9.38.
37 +
Iowa, Kentucky, New Mexico, Rhode Island Gen Laws §12-29-9. See also Oregon.
38 +
Eg, Arkansas.
39 +
Eg, California.
40 +
Eg, California, Kentucky, Texas.
41 +
Eg, California, Kentucky, Oregon.
42 +
Eg, California, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota.
43 +
Karnezis KC. Physician-patient privilege as applied to physician's testimony concerning wound required to be reported to public authority. 85 ALR3d 1196 (1978 & Supp 1994).
44 +
Smith SR.  Medical and psychotherapy privileges and confidentiality: on giving with one hand and removing with the other. Ky Law J . 1986-1987;;75: 473-557.
45 +
Eg, Landeros v Flood, 551 P2d 389 (Calif 1976).
46 +
Newman S.  Privacy in personal medical information: a diagnosis. Univ Fla Law Rev . 1981;;33:394-424.
47 +
Bureau of Justice Statistics. Report to the Nation on Crime and Justice: The Data . Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, US Dept of Justice; October 1983;. Publication NCJ-87068.
48 +
Hart BJ.  State codes on domestic violence: analysis, commentary, and recommendations. Juv Fam Court J . 1992;;43:79.
49 +
Hart BJ.  Battered women and the criminal justice system. Am Behav Scientist . 1993;;36:624-638.
50 +
Bowker LH. Beating Wife-Beating . Lexington, Mass: Lexington Books; 1983;.
51 +
Schechter S, Mihaly LK. Ending Violence Against Women and Children in Massachusetts Families: Critical Steps for the Next Five Years . Boston: Massachusetts Coalition of Battered Women Service Groups; November 1992;.
52 +
US General Accounting Office. Elder Abuse: Effectiveness of Reporting Laws and Other Factors . Washington, DC: US General Accounting Office; 1991;. Publication HRD-91-74.
53 +
Faulkner LR.  Mandating the reporting of suspected cases of elder abuse: an inappropriate, ineffective, and ageist response to the abuse of older adults. Fam Law Q . 1982;;16:69-91.
54 +
Kinports K, Fischer K.  Orders of protection in domestic violence cases: an empirical assessment of the impact of the reform statutes. Tex J Women Law . 1993;;2:163-276.
55 +
California Senate Office of Research. For Your Insight: California's Response to Domestic Violence . Sacramento: California Senate Office of Research; July 12, 1994;.
56 +
A Report from Kentucky Attorney General Chris Gorman. The Health Care Professional's Role in the Reporting of Spouse and Partner Abuse: Legal Responsibilities and Liabilities . Frankfort: Office of the Attorney General of the State of Kentucky; September 1992;.
57 +
Brewer RA, Jones JS.  Reporting elder abuse: limitations of statutes. Ann Emerg Med . 1989;;18:1217-1221.
58 +
Jang DL.  Caught in a web: immigrant women and domestic violence. Clearinghouse Rev . 1994;;28:397-405.
59 +
Rosenberg DA. Prevention of Family Violence: The Role of Medicine . Prepared for American Medical Association National Conference on Family Violence: Health and Justice; March 11-13, 1994;; Washington, DC.
60 +
Hampton RL, Newberger EH.  Child abuse incidence and reporting by hospitals: significance of severity, class, and race.  In: Hotaling GT, Finkelhor D, Kirkpatrick JT, Straus MA, eds. Coping With Family Violence . Newbury Park, Calif: Sage Publications; 1988;:212-221.
61 +
Lo B. Resolving Ethical Dilemmas: A Guide for Clinicians . Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins; 1994;.
62 +
McLeer SV, Anwar R.  The role of the emergency room physician in the prevention of domestic violence. Ann Emerg Med . 1987;;16:1155-1161.
63 +
Beauchamp TL, Childress J. Principles of Biomedical Ethics . 3rd ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press Inc; 1989;.
64 +
Seelye K.  Groups seek insurability for battered women. New York Times . May 12, 1994;:A9.
65 +
Newberger EH.  Child physical abuse. Prim Care . 1993;;20:317-327.
66 +
Costa AJ.  Elder abuse. Prim Care . 1993;;20:375-389.
67 +
Lachs MS, Pillemer K.  Current concepts: abuse and neglect of elderly persons. N Engl J Med . 1995;;332:437-443.
68 +
Maguigan H.  Battered women and self-defense: myths and misconceptions in current reform proposals. Univ Penn Law Rev . 1991;;140:379-486.
69 +
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Accreditation Manual for Hospitals . Oakbrook Terrace, Ill: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; 1992;.
70 +
Eg, Calif Bus & Prof Code §§2089, 2091.2, 2191, 2196.5, 2736.1, 2811.5, 2914, 2915, 4980.41, 4996.2, and Calif Health & Safety Code §§1233.5, 1259.5 (West 1995).
71 +
Warshaw C.  Establishing an appropriate response to domestic violence in your practice, institution, and community.  In: Lee D, Durborow N, Salber P, Heisler C, eds. Improving Health Care Response to Domestic Violence . San Francisco, Calif: Family Violence Prevention Fund; 1994;:73-101. Draft version prepared for California pilot test training.

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

1 +
Flitcraft AH, Hadley SM, Hendricks-Matthews MK, McLeer SV, Warshaw C. Diagnostic and Treatment Guidelines on Domestic Violence . Chicago, Ill: American Medical Association; 1992;.
2 +
Bureau of Justice Statistics. Violence Between Intimates . Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, US Dept of Justice; November 1994;. Publication NCJ-149259.
3 +
Renzetti CM.  Violence in lesbian relationships: a preliminary analysis of causal factors. J Interpersonal Violence . 1988;;3:381-399.
4 +
Letellier P.  Identifying and treating battered gay men. San Francisco Med . 1994;;67:16-19.
5 +
Sassetti MR.  Domestic violence. Prim Care . 1993;;20:289-305.
6 +
Straus M, Gelles R, Steinmetz SK. Behind Closed Doors: A Survey of Family Violence in America . New York, NY: Doubleday & Co Inc; 1980;.
7 +
Stark E, Flitcraft A.  Violence among intimates: an epidemiological review.  In: Van Hasselt VB, Morrison RL, Bellack AS, Hersen M, eds. Handbook of Family Violence . New York, NY: Plenum Press; 1988;:293-318.
8 +
Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute for Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, based on data from Federal Bureau of Investigation. Uniform Crime Reports . Washington, DC: US Dept of Justice; 1982;, 1988-1991.
9 +
Family Violence Prevention Fund. A Study of Family and Domestic Violence Homicide Cases in San Francisco . San Francisco, Calif: San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women, Family Violence Prevention Fund; October 1993;.
10 +
Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association.  Violence against women: relevance for medical practitioners. JAMA . 1992;;267:3184-3189.
11 +
Novello AC.  A medical response to domestic violence. JAMA . 1992;;267: 3132.
12 +
American Medical Association. Health and Justice: Conference Proceedings . National Conference on Family Violence; March 11-13, 1994;; Washington, DC.
13 +
Gin NE, Rucker L, Frayne S, Cygan R, Hubbell FA.  Prevalence of domestic violence among patients in three ambulatory care internal medicine clinics. J Gen Intern Med . 1991;;6:317-322.
14 +
Hamberger LK, Saunders DG, Hovey M.  Prevalence of domestic violence in community practice and rate of physician inquiry. Fam Med . 1992;;24:283-287.
15 +
Helton AS, McFarlane J, Anderson ET.  Battered and pregnant: a prevalence study. Am J Public Health . 1987;;77:1337-1339.
16 +
McLeer SV, Anwar R.  A study of battered women presenting in an emergency department. Am J Public Health . 1989;;79:65-66.
17 +
Sugg NK, Inui T.  Primary care physician response to domestic violence: opening Pandora's box. JAMA . 1992;;267:3157-3160.
18 +
Jecker NS.  Privacy beliefs and the violent family. JAMA . 1993;;269:776-780.
19 +
Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association.  Physicians and domestic violence: ethical considerations. JAMA . 1992;;267: 3190-3193.
20 +
Family Violence Prevention Fund. National Health Initiative on Domestic Violence National Advisory/Experts Committee Meeting Notes . San Francisco, Calif: Family Violence Prevention Fund; January 1994;.
21 +
Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, Washington, Wyoming.
22 +
Eg, Arkansas, Kansas.
23 +
Eg, Kentucky, New Mexico.
24 +
Eg, RI Gen Laws §12-29-9 (Supp 1993); Conn Gen Stat §46b-38e (Repealed 1991).
25 +
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
26 +
Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
27 +
Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee.
28 +
Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon.
29 +
Miss Code Ann §93-21-1 to 25 (Supp 1993); 23 Pa Cons Stat Ann §§6102, 6115 (1991).
30 +
Eg, Kansas, New Hampshire, South Dakota.
31 +
Eg, Alaska, Colorado, Missouri, Oregon.
32 +
Eg, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Tennessee.
33 +
Kentucky, New Mexico.
34 +
Eg, North Dakota.
35 +
Eg, Massachusetts, New Hampshire.
36 +
Kentucky, New Mexico, Rhode Island Gen Laws §12-29-9.38.
37 +
Iowa, Kentucky, New Mexico, Rhode Island Gen Laws §12-29-9. See also Oregon.
38 +
Eg, Arkansas.
39 +
Eg, California.
40 +
Eg, California, Kentucky, Texas.
41 +
Eg, California, Kentucky, Oregon.
42 +
Eg, California, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota.
43 +
Karnezis KC. Physician-patient privilege as applied to physician's testimony concerning wound required to be reported to public authority. 85 ALR3d 1196 (1978 & Supp 1994).
44 +
Smith SR.  Medical and psychotherapy privileges and confidentiality: on giving with one hand and removing with the other. Ky Law J . 1986-1987;;75: 473-557.
45 +
Eg, Landeros v Flood, 551 P2d 389 (Calif 1976).
46 +
Newman S.  Privacy in personal medical information: a diagnosis. Univ Fla Law Rev . 1981;;33:394-424.
47 +
Bureau of Justice Statistics. Report to the Nation on Crime and Justice: The Data . Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, US Dept of Justice; October 1983;. Publication NCJ-87068.
48 +
Hart BJ.  State codes on domestic violence: analysis, commentary, and recommendations. Juv Fam Court J . 1992;;43:79.
49 +
Hart BJ.  Battered women and the criminal justice system. Am Behav Scientist . 1993;;36:624-638.
50 +
Bowker LH. Beating Wife-Beating . Lexington, Mass: Lexington Books; 1983;.
51 +
Schechter S, Mihaly LK. Ending Violence Against Women and Children in Massachusetts Families: Critical Steps for the Next Five Years . Boston: Massachusetts Coalition of Battered Women Service Groups; November 1992;.
52 +
US General Accounting Office. Elder Abuse: Effectiveness of Reporting Laws and Other Factors . Washington, DC: US General Accounting Office; 1991;. Publication HRD-91-74.
53 +
Faulkner LR.  Mandating the reporting of suspected cases of elder abuse: an inappropriate, ineffective, and ageist response to the abuse of older adults. Fam Law Q . 1982;;16:69-91.
54 +
Kinports K, Fischer K.  Orders of protection in domestic violence cases: an empirical assessment of the impact of the reform statutes. Tex J Women Law . 1993;;2:163-276.
55 +
California Senate Office of Research. For Your Insight: California's Response to Domestic Violence . Sacramento: California Senate Office of Research; July 12, 1994;.
56 +
A Report from Kentucky Attorney General Chris Gorman. The Health Care Professional's Role in the Reporting of Spouse and Partner Abuse: Legal Responsibilities and Liabilities . Frankfort: Office of the Attorney General of the State of Kentucky; September 1992;.
57 +
Brewer RA, Jones JS.  Reporting elder abuse: limitations of statutes. Ann Emerg Med . 1989;;18:1217-1221.
58 +
Jang DL.  Caught in a web: immigrant women and domestic violence. Clearinghouse Rev . 1994;;28:397-405.
59 +
Rosenberg DA. Prevention of Family Violence: The Role of Medicine . Prepared for American Medical Association National Conference on Family Violence: Health and Justice; March 11-13, 1994;; Washington, DC.
60 +
Hampton RL, Newberger EH.  Child abuse incidence and reporting by hospitals: significance of severity, class, and race.  In: Hotaling GT, Finkelhor D, Kirkpatrick JT, Straus MA, eds. Coping With Family Violence . Newbury Park, Calif: Sage Publications; 1988;:212-221.
61 +
Lo B. Resolving Ethical Dilemmas: A Guide for Clinicians . Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins; 1994;.
62 +
McLeer SV, Anwar R.  The role of the emergency room physician in the prevention of domestic violence. Ann Emerg Med . 1987;;16:1155-1161.
63 +
Beauchamp TL, Childress J. Principles of Biomedical Ethics . 3rd ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press Inc; 1989;.
64 +
Seelye K.  Groups seek insurability for battered women. New York Times . May 12, 1994;:A9.
65 +
Newberger EH.  Child physical abuse. Prim Care . 1993;;20:317-327.
66 +
Costa AJ.  Elder abuse. Prim Care . 1993;;20:375-389.
67 +
Lachs MS, Pillemer K.  Current concepts: abuse and neglect of elderly persons. N Engl J Med . 1995;;332:437-443.
68 +
Maguigan H.  Battered women and self-defense: myths and misconceptions in current reform proposals. Univ Penn Law Rev . 1991;;140:379-486.
69 +
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Accreditation Manual for Hospitals . Oakbrook Terrace, Ill: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; 1992;.
70 +
Eg, Calif Bus & Prof Code §§2089, 2091.2, 2191, 2196.5, 2736.1, 2811.5, 2914, 2915, 4980.41, 4996.2, and Calif Health & Safety Code §§1233.5, 1259.5 (West 1995).
71 +
Warshaw C.  Establishing an appropriate response to domestic violence in your practice, institution, and community.  In: Lee D, Durborow N, Salber P, Heisler C, eds. Improving Health Care Response to Domestic Violence . San Francisco, Calif: Family Violence Prevention Fund; 1994;:73-101. Draft version prepared for California pilot test training.

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