THE AMERICAN-COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS - A DECADE OFRESPONDING TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Violence against women is a common phenomenon worldwide. Effects can b e severe and life-long. As physicians who treat women exclusively, the obstetrician-gynecologist has a medical and ethical obligation to rec ognize and intervene on behalf of their abused patients. At the same t ime, because of the special nature of the patient-physician relationsh ip, the obstetrician-gynecologist is in a unique position to provide s uch assistance. This article presents an overview of violence against women and its consequences, highlights responses to the problem, and d etails the activities of the American College of Obstetricians and Gyn ecologists to educate its members on domestic violence. ACOG activitie s may serve as a model of response to domestic violence for similar or ganizations. (C) 1997 International Federation of Gynecology and Obste trics.