American Academy of Neurology Calls on Neurologists to Screen Patients for Abuse

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is calling on neurologists to start screening patients for abusive or violent treatment by family, caretakers or others, according to a new position statement published in the Jan. 25 online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the AAN. Types of abuse include elder abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, emotional abuse, bullying, cyberbullying and violence.

“Neurologists see patients with neurologic disorders that may make them more susceptible to abuse or neglect,” says AAN Fellow Elliott A. Schulman, MD, of Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, Pa.,  lead author of the statement. “They also see patients with neurologic issues that may be either directly or indirectly related to mistreatment.” For more information, click here to read the full release.