Citation

Rodriguez MA, McLoughlin E, Bauer HM, Paredes V, Grumbach K. Am. J. Public Health 1999; 89(4): 575-578.

Affiliation

Pacific Center for Violence Prevention, San Francisco, Calif., USA. rodrigu@itsa.ucsf.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, American Public Health Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10191807

PMCID

PMC1508892

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study examined physicians' perspectives on mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence to police. METHODS: We surveyed a stratified random sample of California physicians practicing emergency, family, and internal medicine and obstetrics/gynecology. RESULTS: An estimated 59% of California primary care and emergency physicians (n = 508, 71% response rate) reported that they might not comply with the reporting law if a patient objects. Primary care physicians reported lower compliance. Most physicians agreed that the legislation has potential risks, raises ethical concerns, and may provide benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians' stated noncompliance and perceived negative consequences raise the possibility that California's mandatory reporting law is problematic and ineffective.