Domestic Violence in Healthcare

Know this for the GSET interview This is an unfortunate scenario that can arise in clinical practice - assessing patients with trauma from DV.

It begins with an urgent assessment and management following Principles of managing trauma (EMST).

Once the patient is safe from acute threats, you should raise the issue of violence with the patient.

Principles of communication apply. You should:

• Consider an interpreter, cultural or social support.
• Use active listening.
• Validate her feelings (that must have been very frightening for you).
• Validate the disclosure (that must have been very difficult for you to talk about this).
• Emphasise to her that violence is never acceptable.
• Suggest she make a report to the police, and call them with her permission.
  • If there is a risk of homicide or a risk of harm to children, then there are mandatory disclosure requirements.
  • If there is no clear homicide risk and she doesn't want you to report then you must respect those wishes.

Your priorities in this scenario are:

• Ensure the safety of her and any children,
• Respect her autonomy and wishes (empower her to make decisions),
• Provide her with supports (police, emergency services eg shelter, social worker support, psychologist, GP)

Social work, crisis centers, white ribbon/ the orange door.