Mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence is considered
controversial and organizations such as Futures Without Violence do not support
mandatory reporting. In fact, Futures Without Violence (n.d.) stated current
evidence indicated mandatory reporting increased the risk of revenge by the
batterers and placed the victim in danger. Additionally, the World Health
Organization does not support mandatory reporting because it infringes on a
woman’s autonomy and decision making (Feder, Wathen, & MacMillan, 2013). However,
according to the current evidence mandatory referral is considered a much
better option because it allows the victim to maintain confidentiality ensuring
victim trust and true accounts of their abuse (Futures Without Violence, n.d.).
Mandatory referral also ensures the victim has control of their own situation
allowing them to maintain informed consent (Futures Without Violence, n.d.).
Thus, according to the current available evidence mandatory referral is a
better option than mandatory reporting for intimate partner violence victims.
References
Feder,
G., Wathen, C. N., & MacMillan, H. L. (2013). An evidence-based response to
intimate partner violence: WHO guidelines. JAMA: Journal Of The American
Medical Association, 310(5), 479-480. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.167453
Futures
Without Violence. (n.d.). Mandatory reporting of domestic violence to law
enforcement by health care providers: A guide for advocates working to respond
to or amend reporting laws related to domestic violence. Retrieved from www.futureswithoutviolence.org/.../Mandatory_Reporting_of_DV_to_
Law%20Enforcement_by_HCP.pdf
I'll have to admit that until you explained the concern related to reporting and the reason why it is not mandatory, I didn't understand. I now see the detrimental affect it could have on the victim and that he/she must be the one to make the decision to report.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments Julie. I agree it is hard to understand why mandatory reporting is not good for the victim.
DeleteHello Christine,
ReplyDeleteI know it is difficult for nurses to not report abuse, but I agree that mandatory reporting will cause more harm. I feel that we need more information before we start reporting abuse to the authorities. If we report an domestic violence report to the police and they investigate the case, I fear that the woman may experience severe abuse and or death. We need to protect women who are experiencing IPV and assist them with first a plan and then a way-out.
Monique
You are exactly right Monique. We do not want to increase the risk for the woman.
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ReplyDelete