Domestic Violence: Why the Florida Legislature Must Do More to Protect the Silent Victims

A nurse and a doctor at a busy hospital saw a woman who was hit in the eye and is seeing flashing lights. The doctor didn’t mention the hit or the person who hit her, and just said she had a face injury and high blood pressure. The doctor didn’t ask about any abuse the woman might be experiencing. Domestic violence is a serious problem in Florida, and the state has made it mandatory for health care professionals to receive training on how to identify and help victims. Domestic violence can include physical, emotional, and financial abuse, and it’s important for doctors to look for signs of abuse in their patients. It’s a complex issue that requires a team approach to address. Many women and children in the US are abused by their partners or family members every year. In Florida, a task force was appointed to investigate the problem and make recommendations to solve it. The task force made suggestions such as measuring the extent of domestic violence, increasing public awareness, and providing resources for victims. The Florida Legislature passed laws based on these suggestions, including a specific definition of domestic violence. However, some people think the definition needs to be more clear. Florida passed a law requiring all healthcare professionals to take a one-hour course on domestic violence. This is because anyone, regardless of age, race, job, or education, can be a victim. Battered women may seem successful on the outside but could be suffering at home. Doctors are often the first to see signs of abuse, especially in emergency rooms. Pregnant women are particularly at risk. It’s important for doctors to ask the right questions and make a plan to help victims of domestic violence. When someone is physically abused, they may have injuries like bruises, cuts, and broken bones. These injuries are often in places like the head, face, neck, breast, or abdomen. Abused women may also have long-term health problems like depression, anxiety, and physical pain. Doctors need to be sensitive and understanding when caring for these victims. Doctors in Florida have to fulfill education requirements and also have legal and ethical duties to their patients. This can be confusing, but it’s important for them to understand and follow these responsibilities. The American Medical Association says that doctors must help patients who are victims of domestic violence. They have a duty to not only treat physical injuries but also address the underlying problem of family violence. The AMA also says that doctors should not do anything that could harm the patient, and that they need to diagnose and intervene in cases of domestic abuse. In Florida, doctors are only required to report suspected child or elder abuse, or injuries indicating violence, but not domestic violence of adult victims. It’s important for doctors to get permission from the victim before reporting the abuse to law enforcement. In California, health care practitioners must report any known or suspected cases of domestic violence to the authorities. This includes any physical injuries caused by a person’s own actions or by someone else, especially if the injury is from abusive behavior. The California law requires that any acts of violence or abuse, like assault or rape, must be reported to the police right away. This report must be followed up with a written report within two working days. If a doctor sees signs of abuse on a patient, they have to write down specific details in the patient’s medical record and provide a map of the injuries. The doctor also has to refer the patient to domestic violence services. Physicians who report as required by the law are protected from being sued or charged with a crime. If a doctor doesn’t report an incident, they could be charged with a misdemeanor. This law helps guide doctors on what to do and makes it easier to prosecute abusers. In Kentucky, healthcare workers and other caregivers must report suspected abuse of an adult to the Department of Social Services. They need to provide as much information as possible about the situation, including the name and address of the adult, the nature of the abuse, and the identity of the person responsible. The report must be made immediately upon suspicion of abuse. In California and Kentucky, doctors have to report suspected domestic abuse to the police and can’t be sued for doing it. In New Mexico, anyone who knows about adult abuse has to report it or they could get in trouble. But in Florida, doctors don’t have to report abuse, so they should talk to their patients and encourage them to get help. Doctors in Florida are often hesitant to ask about domestic abuse because they are busy and may feel uncomfortable. But it’s important for them to help their patients who are being abused. They should encourage the victim to let the police know, but if the victim doesn’t want to, the doctor should still help by giving them information about other places they can go for help, like social workers or other healthcare professionals. If the patient still doesn’t want to talk about it, the doctor should give them information about places they can go for help. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence in Florida, there is a hotline you can call for help and advice. The number is 1-800-500-1119. The counselors on the hotline can also connect you with local domestic violence centers for further help. It’s important for everyone, including doctors, to be aware of and report suspected cases of domestic violence. There are laws in place to protect those who report in good faith. The goal is to promote the health and well-being of people in Florida who may be experiencing domestic violence.

Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/domestic-violence-why-the-florida-legislature-must-do-more-to-protect-the-silent-victims/