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The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: a decade of responding to violence against women
Author(s) -
Jones R.F.,
Horan D.L.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/s0020-7292(97)02863-4
Subject(s) - medicine , obligation , domestic violence , obstetrics and gynaecology , suicide prevention , family medicine , poison control , medical emergency , pregnancy , law , biology , political science , genetics
Abstract Violence against women is a common phenomenon worldwide. Effects can be severe and life‐long. As physicians who treat women exclusively, the obstetrician‐gynecologist has a medical and ethical obligation to recognize and intervene on behalf of their abused patients. At the same time, because of the special nature of the patient‐physician relationship, the obstetrician‐gynecologist is in a unique position to provide such assistance. This article presents an overview of violence against women and its consequences, highlights responses to the problem, and details the activities of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to educate its members on domestic violence. ACOG activities may serve as a model of response to domestic violence for similar organizations.