At your next doctor's appointment, amid questions about alcohol,
smoking and medications, don't be surprised if you're asked,
"How are things at home?" Roughly one-third of women and one-
quarter of men report experiencing some form of domestic
violence, also referred to as inter-partner violence, during
their lifetime. While these statistics are alarming, the numbers
are almost certainly worse, due to the systematic under-
reporting of abuse. But a panel of national experts has found
there is a particular time-frame in a woman's life when she is
most vulnerable to abuse. The U.S. Preventive Services Task
Force previously found insufficient evidence to recommend for or
against domestic violence screening by doctors. But on Monday,
the panel updated its guidance in the medical journal Annals of
Internal Medicine, recommending that all women of childbearing
age be screened for abuse, and women who screen positive should
be provided or referred to intervention services. The task force
also issued a draft statement