Mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence to police: views of physicians in California.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Rodriguez
M A
MA
Pacific Center for Violence Prevention, San Francisco, Calif., USA. rodrigu@itsa.ucsf.edu
McLoughlin
E
E
Bauer
H M
HM
Paredes
V
V
Grumbach
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002140:California; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D016495:Police; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires