Citation

Ann. Emerg. Med. 2019; 74(3): e32-e33.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American College of Emergency Physicians, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.annemergmed.2019.05.005

PMID

31445564

Abstract

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) encourages emergency personnel to assess all patients for family violence in all its forms, including that directed toward children, elders, intimate partners, and other family members. Such patients should be appropriately referred for help and detailed evaluation. Identification and assessment can be difficult because violence and maltreatment can encompass abuse in many different forms, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, financial exploitation, and intimidation.

ACEP opposes mandatory reporting of domestic violence to the criminal justice system. Instead, ACEP encourages partnering with and reporting of domestic violence to local social services, victims’ services, the criminal justice system, or any other appropriate resource agency to provide confidential counseling and assistance, in accordance with the patient’s wishes. Safety planning should be an important component of any screening process. In jurisdictions that have mandatory reporting requirements, persons reporting in good faith should be immune from liability for compliance...

Language: en