James chats to Rosemary Isaacs about recognising and responding to situations of domestic violence in the Emergency Department, specifically interpersonal or partner violence.
Summary Writer: Jane McDonnell
Script Writer: Rosemary Isaacs
Editor: Rosemary Isaacs
Interviewee: Rosemary Isaacs
Dr Rosemary Isaacs works at Royal Prince Alfred and Liverpool hospitals in the medical and forensic response to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and child abuse. Rosemary is a Fellow of the Faculty of Clinical Forensic Medicine in the RCPA and also a Fellow in General Practice of the RACGP.
Rosemary is convinced that this is an area where doctors with specific training can make a big difference to vulnerable people in our community. In addition, the anxiety and distress for health staff are much reduced when they have a framework for responding to these issues.
With Dr Rosemary Isaacs, Forensic Specialist and former Director of Sexual Assault Service at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
The focus of this podcast is interpersonal violence or partner violence, including opposite or same-sex partners and including violence by an ex-partner. In circumstances where there has been violence in a former relationship, the time of separation is often a time of increased violence so ex-partners are important to consider.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show 1 in 6 Australian women and 1 in 19 Australian men had experienced physical or sexual violence from a current or former partner. (2012 Personal Safety).
You are working in the Emergency Department as a junior doctor. A 33-year-old teacher presents with a bruised, swollen nose. She is requesting an x-ray, concerned there may be a fracture. You notice she is holding a young child. Her partner is present. He is concerned and keen to support her. On history, she states she tripped over the child’s toy and fell into a door yesterday. The swelling has gotten a bit worse since then and they are worried that the nose may be broken.
You take further history and ask what else was happening at the time of the fall. The patient states that she was stressed because her partner was angry about some bills. She was upset and tried to leave the room when she fell.
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