Medical care solicitation by criminals with gunshot wound injuries: a survey of Washington, DC, jail detainees.
BACKGROUND
The best estimates of nonfatal gunshot wounds in the United States come from hospital emergency room data and may miss, among other things, wounded individuals who do not seek medical treatment. Criminals may be those least likely to rely on professional care for their wounds. This study provides evidence of whether medical care is solicited by criminals after gunshot wounds. In addition, the circumstances of the injury events are described.


METHODS
A case series of 79 detainees at a Washington, DC, jail who had previously been shot in 93 separate incidents were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. Data were obtained concerning the age and race of the victim, the location of the wound, and the length of hospital stay.


RESULTS
In 92% of the incidents, respondents reported going to the hospital; one-third of those shot were hospitalized for more than 1 week. More than half (54%) had been hit in the head or torso, and 40% had a current disability attributable to the wound.


CONCLUSIONS
Among these "criminals," the vast majority reported that they obtained professional care for their gunshot wounds. Such evidence suggests that individuals previously thought unlikely to enter the medical care system after a firearm injury usually do so. Statistics on medically treated nonfatal gunshot wounds probably do not substantially underestimate the actual number of nonfatal shootings.
May
J P
JP
Prison Health Services, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, USA.
Hemenway
D
D
Oen
R
R
Pitts
K R
KR
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D003417:Criminal Psychology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004219:District of Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy