Improved
6112 HealthChanged
3786 LivesSaved
3568 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 4.8 million women and 2.9 million men are victims of violence by a partner each year in the United States.
A new study published by the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery (a JAMA Journal)in the Jan/Feb issue, shows that certain facial injuries sustained during domestic abuse situations are more identifiable over most bruises, cuts, and breaks received from a crime in which they didn’t know the assailant; for example in a robbery or car accident. http://archfaci.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/11/1/48?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=domestic+abuse&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=date&resourcetype=HWCIT
Other studies say that not enough doctors are going out of their way to suggest treatment or help to patients they suspect are being abused. No matter how far-fetched an emergency room excuse may be for physically abused women who present with facial injuries, it is probably a cry for help when they can’t or won’t tell the truth about their injuries.
Do you know anyone whose facial injuries may be suspect of abuse by a husband, boyfriend, or someone else in the family?
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment2 Comments
Anon, one thing that you can do is make notations in your calendar when you notice bruises or wounds that seem to be constant. I saw a true story on Oprah once where a coworker, suspecting the worst about her cubicle-mate's seemingly constant "accidental" injuries, just started noting them in her calendar.
We might think it's none of our business, but what ultimately happened in this case was that the violence escalated and the injured woman took her cubicle mate into her confidence. Ultimately, it was the woman's notes on her calendar that turned out to be the most important evidence in court, because it was an objective record -- just notes and dates from a third party witness, no "he-said, she-said" about them.
I do think hospitals are especially on the lookout for child abuse, especially in children too young to speak for themselves. Like Susan says, there may not be much they can do for an adult who insists that an injury happened accidentally.
January 23, 2009 - 9:36amThis Comment
I know a co-worker that has frequently shown up for work with suspicious marks on her face. One time she told me she was playing softball and got hit by the ball...I am not sure if I believe her story. What can I do to get involved and help but still respect her privacy? I do not know her boyfriend at all, but she talks about him.
January 21, 2009 - 12:41pmThis Comment