Obtaining Asylum from Partner Abuse: the Physician's Role

Abstract

Mrs Niro came into the clinic with her cousin, Cheryl, to see Dr Angela Cartwright. Mrs Niro had left her home country 1 month before to live with Cheryl, Cheryl's husband, and their 3 children in the United States.According to Cheryl and Mrs Niro, Mrs Niro's husband has been abusing her since the day they married 6 years ago."He gets angry if he has a bad day at work or if he loses money on a bet or if the food is a little cold," Mrs Niro explains. "When he starts to get angry I can't do anything to calm him down. He hurt my right arm and broke my nose. My back is always sore from where he hit me with a chair."After the latest episode, Mrs Niro spent a week in the hospital. The doctors were willing to release Mrs Niro after 2 days, but she convinced one of the doctors to keep her for the rest of the week for "observation" so she could avoid going home while her husband cooled off. This also gave Cheryl more time to get a vacation visa for Mrs Niro to come to the United States. Mrs Niro doesn't want to return home because she knows if she does her husband will kill her. Cheryl wants Mrs Niro to apply for asylum.Dr Cartwright examines Mrs Niro and takes a medical history. Dr Cartwright sees signs of eye damage and makes a note for an ophthalmologic consultation. Mrs Niro cannot hear very well out of her left ear, and x-rays show signs of fractures to her nose and collar bone that are not fully healed. One of her shoulders has a number of scars. Mrs Niro says these are from when her husband hit her with a bottle.Dr Cartwright asks Mrs Niro if she calls the police or if she has ever pressed charges against her husband. "Why would I call the police? Everybody knows they won't do anything to help me. Maybe they will agree with me that I have bad luck to have such a husband, but they won't help me. Besides, that will just make him more angry."