The leaders of Canada's orthopedic surgeons are urging the specialists to seek out and help women whose injuries were caused by abuse, citing a recent study that concluded surprising numbers of female fracture patients are victims of domestic assault.
The doctors who fix broken bones and dislocated limbs are ideally positioned to identify partner-battery cases, yet rarely think about the problem, says the Hamilton, Ont., surgeon who spearheaded the initiative -- one that raises concerns over patient confidentiality and received a muted response from medical journals.
A new, four-page statement just approved by the Canadian Orthopedic Association suggests that the surgeons consider it "good medical practice" to try to identify and offer aid to victims.
Dr. Mohit Bhandari of Hamilton's McMaster University said audience members at a recent association conference were taken aback when he explained that they are likely seeing many abuse victims a year without knowing it.
"They were a little bit surprised, if not shocked," said
Dr. Bhandari, who holds the Canada research chair in muskuloskeletal trauma.
"I think there is almost a sense of embarrassment -- 'I can't believe that we've been letting this go on.' But I truly believe it was not deliberate. It was a personal perception: They just didn't see it."
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