Intimate Partner Violence: The Physician's Responsive and Preventive Roles

The CDC released a report on the prevalence of sexual violence and intimate partner violence (IPV) that stated about 36% of women in the US are raped or sexually assaulted by an intimate partner during their lifetimes. About 6% experience this in any given year. The costs are burdensome to the health care system and society, estimated at 2.3 to 7 billion dollars in the first year after the assault. What can physicians do to address this public health issue? Host family practitioner Dr. Jennifer Caudle welcomes Dr. Jane Liebschutz to answer these questions and provide insight to the important roles of the physician. Dr. Liebschutz is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Community Health Science and the Director of the General Internal Medicine-Family Medicine-Pediatrics Academic Fellowship at Boston Medical Center.