The physician should keep in mind that the abused or battered woman/man is often at greatest risk immediately after the police are first called and after the police leave the scene. Prior to reporting instances of spousal abuse, the physician should encourage the patient to locate a protected environment for herself/himself and children, if applicable, rather than run the risk of being in the same hostile environment he/she was in when the police were first called. Physicians should obtain information on battered women’s/men’s shelters in the local area, as well as information on counseling programs for both victim and batterer to utilize in these instances.
The telephone report must be made immediately or as soon as practically possible, and must be followed up with a written report to the local law enforcement agency within two (2) working days of receiving the information regarding the injured person. The written report must be on a standardized form and include the name of the injured person, location of injury, extent of injury, description of how the person was injured, and identity of the person inflicting the injury, if known. To be reportable, the injury must be current and the patient still suffering from it. If two or more persons are required to report the same incident, they may agree among themselves as to one reporter. No person who is obligated to report may be inhibited or impeded in his or her reporting duties by any supervisor or administrator.
There are no Penal Code statutes prohibiting verbal or mental abuse or the psychological injuries arising out these acts, so physicians are not legally obligated to report such cases.