Domestic abuse
What it means
Any incident or pattern of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading or violent behaviour between people aged 16+ who are personal/intimate partners or family members — includes physical, sexual, psychological, economic and coercive control. Enquire sensitively (alone), assess risk (e.g. DASH), provide information and referral to specialist services (IDVA/MARAC for high risk). Affects safeguarding of any children in the household.
Worked example
A patient with recurrent unexplained injuries who is never seen alone and is controlled by a partner — ask sensitively when alone and offer specialist referral.
In the exam
A patient repeatedly attends with injuries and a controlling partner who answers for her; the clinician arranges to see her alone to ask about her safety.
What settles it
Coercive control is domestic abuse even without physical violence; always consider the safeguarding of children in the household.
Classically confused with
FGM mandatory reporting
Source: Domestic Abuse Act 2021; DASH/MARAC