Emergency medicine clinics of North America
-
Firearms contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in family violence. This article discusses the debate on gun use for protection and guns in the home. Weapons-related risks in the setting of intimate partner violence are closely reviewed. Recommendations for physicians are discussed in the context of firearms and family violence.
-
Violence in the emergency department is a frequently encountered problem that is often not promptly or adequately addressed. This article outlines the epidemiology of violence in the emergency department, including patients at greatest risk for aggressive behavior. The necessary steps to identify and approach these patients and recommended methods for sedation and restraint are discussed.
-
According to recent national studies, one in six women and one in 33 men will experience an attempted or completed rape during their lifetime. Although most rapes are never reported, victims that do report them often present to the emergency department for intervention. ⋯ The emergency physician can play a crucial role in easing the transition from victim to survivor with initial treatment. This article summarizes current recommendations for evaluation and treatment of sexual assault victims.