Should reporting spousal abuse become mandatory?

As doctors, our mission is to aid the weak to the best of our abilities, helping them to become strong; we support patients until they recover, console the sorrowful until they find joy, and alleviate the pain of the afflicted. This is our calling, and we embrace it with happiness and eagerness.However, there exist people who are vulnerable despite lacking illness, sadness or physical pain. Their vulnerability stems from their presence in certain environments and among specific people. Children and the elderly are at risk of experiencing abuse, humiliation, violence and neglect without justification, simply due to their inability to defend themselves. Some live among people devoid of mercy and compassion. Fortunately, there are institutions and authorities tasked with protecting them, and it is our responsibility as health providers to reach out to these organizations in cases of abuse, violence or neglect, such as contacting the police or child aid services.Unfortunately, there are segments of society that endure daily psychological, physical and sexual abuse. They often speak of their suffering during visits, yet we find ourselves unable to intervene or alleviate their pain, sorrow and suffering. Among these vulnerable groups are people who are in relationships, particularly women.Read: Dr. Jabir Jassam: Are physicians entitled to human rights?Sara (all names changed), in her forties, is an active woman who runs a home daycare. Despite the façade of her vibrant exterior, she battles depression and anxiety. Upon delving deeper into her history, she confided in me about her husband’s anger management issues and daily mental and physical abuse. She even revealed a bruise on her leg from when he kicked her with his shoes.“Why don’t you do something?” I asked.“What would I do?” she replied.“Call the police?” I suggested.“I don’t want to be the woman who calls the police on her husband,” she lamented.“But you’re the woman whose husband abuses her daily,” I pointed out.“What would the police do?” she questioned.“They will protect you,” I assured her.“They didn’t protect my friend from her husband,” she countered.“If you show them the bruise, they will,” I insisted.“I don’t want to go through a divorce. I have three kids, and I’ll tolerate everything until they get older,” she concluded.Adam, 53, suffers from persistent depression disorder and insomnia. Despite trying various medications, nothing has helped. He revealed to me that his wife beats him almost weekly.“Do you remember a few years ago when you stitched my face?” he asked.“I don’t really remember, but what happened then?” I inquired.“She hit me with a stick,” he confessed.“Why don’t you do something?” I pressed.“Like what?” He asked. “Call the police; they will protect you,” I suggested.“If I do that, it means I will have to file for divorce,” he hesitated.“Why not?” I urged.“Who will look after the kids?” he sighed.Both cases left me infuriated but I was powerless. I hope that one day reporting spousal abuse becomes mandatory.Sara and Adam’s cases are not isolated incidents; I’ve encountered numerous heartbreaking scenarios like theirs, and I’m certain my colleagues have as well. I believe the pandemic has exacerbated spousal abuse significantly.Decision-makers must be cognizant that implementing mandatory reporting for spousal abuse could overwhelm prisons but I believe jails are not wrong places for spousal abusers. Dr. Jabir Jassam is a family physician in Ottawa.

Should reporting spousal abuse become mandatory?

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