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A Neglected Epidemic

Robert E. McAfee, MD

Arch Facial Plast Surg. 1999;1:133-134.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

An obviously well-to-do older woman goes for her yearly physical examination. Her physician asked during the routine history, in a nonpejorative fashion, "Has anyone harmed you in the last year? Do you feel safe at home?" Much to the physician's surprise, she sighs, responding, "Nobody has ever asked me that before. I thought I was hiding it better."

For the past 10 years, the American Medical Association¹ (AMA) has identified family violence as an emerging, and now an epidemic, public health problem. Violence, in general, in our society and across the world is now declared a public health priority by the Institute of Medicine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization.¹ The latter organization identifies violence as a neglected epidemic that soon may surpass infectious disease as the principal cause of morbidity and premature mortality worldwide.¹ There is no question that . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Dr McAfee is a former president of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees.