Ej. Alpert, VIOLENCE IN INTIMATE-RELATIONSHIPS AND THE PRACTICING INTERNIST - NEWDISEASE OR NEW AGENDA, Annals of internal medicine, 123(10), 1995, pp. 774-781
Domestic Violence is endemic in U.S. society and is seen in nearly eve
ry venue of medical care. A history of abuse should be considered and
routinely queried in all women who present for emergency care, should
be suspected in any woman who presents with an injury, and should be r
outinely screened for in primary care settings. Clinical manifestation
s, suggested diagnostic strategies, obstacles to leaving the abusive r
elationship, and the barriers that patients face in obtaining and that
physicians face in providing optimal care in situations of domestic v
iolence are discussed. Physicians can play a pivotal role in primary p
revention, early intervention, and follow-up care during and after an
episode of intimate partner violence. Clinical competence in the treat
ment and prevention of family violence is an important component of th
e new agenda for hearth care, particularly in generalist fields such a
s general internal medicine.