Education about adult domestic violence in U.S. and Canadian medical schools, 1987-88

Article Abstract:

Medical students receive inadequate training regarding adult domestic violence, which is estimated to involve more than four million spouses. In addition to spouse beatings, the incidence of date violence on American campuses may be of a similar level, and abuse of elderly family members must also be included in determining the frequency of adult domestic violence. A recent survey of hospital personnel showed that less than five percent of episodes of domestic violence were recognized in adult female patients. A survey of medical school education concerning adult domestic violence was sent to member schools of the Association of American Medical Colleges; 81 percent (116 medical schools) replied. The findings revealed that 53 percent of the responding schools failed to give medical students any instruction concerning adult domestic violence. Forty-two percent reported that students received information in at least one required course. Five percent of the schools reported that elective courses that included information about domestic violence were available. Of the courses provided, 68 percent were presented during the preclinical years; 63 percent were taught by psychiatry or behavioral science faculty. The format of the instructional material was greatly varied and, in some cases, included films and direct contact with victims of domestic violence as a supplement to conventional teaching methods.

Services, Information services, Abused children, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

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Characteristics of participants in domestic violence: assessment at the scene of domestic assault

Article Abstract:

Many victims of domestic violence do not seek medical treatment when abused. Physicians, paramedics and nurses at Methodist Hospital in Memphis, TN, monitored police radio channels and went to the scene of 62 domestic violence incidents over 23 consecutive nights. Almost 70% of the incidents involved weapons. Eighty-nine percent of the victims had been assaulted by their partner before but only 22% had ever gone to the hospital. Drugs or alcohol were involved in over 90% of the incidents and almost half the assailants had a police history of violence. In 15% of the cases, the victim was seriously injured.

Care and treatment

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Teaching of human rights in US medical schools

Article Abstract:

Many US medical schools are not adequately teaching medical students about human rights. A survey of 113 US medical schools revealed that most medical schools included only half of 16 recommended human rights issues in their curricula. The issues included informed consent, the rights of children and discrimination against various groups such as prisoners, immigrants, the disabled, homosexuals, minorities and women. Most of the medical schools covered these topics but very few covered the rights of international torture victims and the role of physicians in war.

Ethical aspects, Study and teaching, Human rights, Discrimination in medical care, Medical care discrimination

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