Citation

Sullivan CM, Hagen LA. Affilia 2005; 20(3): 346-361.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0886109905277611

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Sixty-one survivors of domestic or sexual abuse participated in focus groups to discuss their perceptions of mandatory reporting by health care professionals. Only one participant believed that medical providers should notify the police when a woman seeks treatment. This survivor's experience was different from that of most of the other participants in that she was raped by a stranger. The remaining participants were unanimous in their belief that medical reporting should not be mandatory until a number of changes are made in the system to promote victims' safety. The survivors shared numerous examples of having been revictimized by the child protection system, health care system, mass media, and especially the criminal legal system. Practice, policy, and research implications are discussed.