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The Hidden EpidemicPhysician Leadership Is Essential
Antonia C. Novello, MD, MPH
Arch Fam Med. 1992;1(1):29-31.
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| Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings. |
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Domestic violence is a complex crisis of epidemic proportion. It is, however, hidden, and not usually discussed as a public health epidemic. It is the ultimate outrage: an act of hatred, betrayal, disregard, and disrespect, often perpetrated by our closest friends and relatives, the ones we love, the ones we trust, and the ones on whom we depend.
Domestic violence haunts our dating encounters. It can turn the marriage license into a "hitting license." Domestic violence is a desperate and intolerable situation, in which perceptions of vulnerability, loss, betrayal, and hopelessness are the norm.
The repetition of aggression in families is facilitated by the fact that victims are readily available; the amount of time at risk is high; assaults can be carried out in private; and wife assault is a relatively low-risk behavior for the aggressor, in terms of identification and sanctions. In fact, the victims may have a
. . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]
Author Affiliations
US Surgeon General Washington, DC
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