Domestic Abuse

Question 1

How is domestic abuse defined?

Answer 1

Any incident / pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse. Between those aged 16 or over, who are / were intimate partners or family members.

Question 2

What characteristics of an injury suggest domestic abuse?

Answer 2

• reported as unwitnessed by anyone else
• repeat attendance
• delay in seeking help
• multiple minor injuries

Question 3

What are different risk levels of domestic abuse?

Answer 3

Standard - current evidence goes not indicate likelihood of causing serious harm.

Medium - identifiable indicators of risk of serious harm, harm unlikely to occur unless change in circumstances.

High - identifiable indicators of immense risk of serious harm.

Question 4

Doctors’ role in standard / medium risk domestic abuse?

Answer 4

• give contact details for domestic abuse services
• keep good records
• ensure follow-up as appropriate

Question 5

Doctors’ role in high risk domestic abuse?

Answer 5

• refer to specialist services (MARAC / IDVAS) where possible with consent, but can break confidentiality if high risk
• give contact details for domestic abuse services
• keep good records
• ensure follow-up as appropriate

Question 6

HARK questions for domestic abuse?

Answer 6

• humiliation
• afraid
• rape
• kick (physical abuse / threats of physical abuse)

Question 7

What is MARAC?

Answer 7

multi-agency risk assessment conference