by Linda G. Mills

About the author: Linda G. Mills is an attorney and an associate professor of social welfare and law at UCLA’s School of Public Policy and Social Research.

I’m sorry, but if my doctor were to call the police and they went to my husband, my husband would have beat the shit out of me.

Anonymous

The arguments in favor of and against mandatory reporting parallel some of the arguments in favor of and against mandatory arrest and prosecution. Health practitioners, like law enforcement and prosecutors, must acknowledge and accept their roles as participants in order for the policy to be effective. The inaction of health care personnel and law enforcement may also have similar negative results.

Identifying Domestic Violence Victims in the Emergency Room

Those...