FACP is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville.
Domestic violence is a common but often poorly recognized source of medical morbidity.
In Florida, a person is killed by a family member every 36 hours. More than 119,930 incidents of domestic violence were reported to the FDLE in 1994. Domestic violence costs employers 3-5 billion dollars annually due to worker absenteeism and medical expenses. It is important for physicians to realize the true extent of abuse in their practices, and to develop screening mechanisms to identify victims and perpetrators. It is also important to recognize the physical and psychological signs of abuse and to be aware of community resources for counseling.