U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Medical Records as Legal Evidence of Domestic Violence, Summary Report
NCJ Number
              184528

Author(s)
          Nancy E. Issac Sc.D.;
                        Pualani  Enos J.D.
Date Published

May 2000
Length
              12 pages
Annotation
              This project brought together a uniquely experienced team of researchers, medical personnel (including social workers), attorneys, and judges to consider what forms of potentially available medical documentation would be most useful in substantiating abuse of women in a variety of legal contexts.
Abstract
              The study reviewed 96 medical charts belonging to 86 abused women who made 772 visits to two Boston area hospitals. The visits involved health care received in recent years; 70 percent of the visits were made in 1997 or later, and only 15 percent were made before 1995. Each of the 772 visits was reviewed to identify any indication of domestic violence that would call for more detailed data abstraction. In total, 184 of the 772 visits (24 percent) were abstracted. Many different aspects of medical documentation by doctors, nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, and emergency medical technicians were examined. Findings showed it was difficult to obtain medical records in a timely fashion. Among health care visits, only 1 of the 93 visits involving an injury contained a photograph. Although photographs and body maps were rare, injuries were otherwise described in detail. One-third of notes from doctors or nurses, however, contained vital information that was illegible. Negative statements about patient appearance, manner, or motives were present in less than 1 percent of the medical records. Many health care providers were confused about whether, how, and why to record information about domestic violence in medical charts. In an effort to be neutral regarding abuse situations, some health care providers used language that was likely to harm an abused woman's legal case. The study identified some relatively minor changes in documentation practices that may improve the usefulness of abused women's medical records in legal contexts. 2 tables
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        97-WT-VX-0008


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)
    
  
  
Date Published: May 1, 2000
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Abused women
        Criminal investigation
        Domestic assault
        Evidence
        Evidence Identification



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Discoveries From the Forensic Anthropology Data Base: Modern American Skeletal Change & the Case of Amelia Earhart
                  Racial Inequality in the Transition to Adulthood After Prison
                  Investigation of Falsified Documents via Direct Analyte-Probed Nanoextraction Coupled to Nanospray Mass Spectrometry, Fluorescence Microscopy, and Raman Spectroscopy
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov