Suspected abuse

Daiphon nailed it. In cases of Intimate Partner Violence, you must talk to the patient alone. Also, don't use a family translator. Reporting varies by state, so you'll have to check your state laws. In mine, IPV/DV is not reportable unless it's a lifethreatening injury (like GSW.) The wording is a little grey, so you have to use your best judgement. Overall, an adult victim might not see themselves as a victim, and may be too scared to say anything. Reassurance that the patient does not deserve this may lead to disclosure the next time. There isn't much you can do other than document and educate. To learn more, you can try http://ift.tt/1erFNJw which is a national group, or reach out to your local shelter. They provide many more resources than just sheltering - they do education, provide counseling, court advocacy, and some even help with transitional housing and beyond. The hotline numbers are anonymous, and a victim can merely use that as a shoulder to cry on if that's what she needs. They also do safety planning and lethality assessments - a great resource.

I am also a fan of the radiology excuse - it's easy to arrange (hell, you can just have them take the patient out of the room for the discussion if you want.)

If you have specific questions, ask. I worked as an advocate for several years and answered the hotline myself.

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Suspected abuse