Identifying the signs of
physical or emotional
abuse is notoriously difficult, with numerous studies detailing
rampant under - detection in the medical community — even among primary care physicians, who typically have more training and a deeper familiarity with patients.2 For birth registrars, the innate difficulty of detection is compounded by the hectic and eventful atmosphere surrounding a birth, making it an especially inopportune time to identify and broach such a sensitive issue, especially if an abusive father is present.