Mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence: safety or retaliatory abuse for women?
We wished to ascertain abused women's perspectives on mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence. A consecutive sample of 161 abused women accessing the criminal justice system were asked six questions. Most women (81%) thought there should be a law making the nurse or doctor report the abuse, with less than half of the women (45%) reporting they would have been at greater risk for abuse following a mandatory report. Although these 161 abused women support mandatory reporting of partner abuse, it remains unclear if such a law would deter further abuse. Outcome and evaluation studies of mandatory reporting laws are urgently needed.
Malecha
A T
AT
Texas Woman's University, College of Nursing, Houston, USA.
Lemmey
D
D
McFarlane
J
J
Willson
P
P
Fredland
N
N
Gist
J
J
Schultz
P
P
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D012306:Risk; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology