domestic disturbance...

I had this assault case 2 days ago ...
It was 8+ pm when the ambulance brought in a family. 4 persons came in with the ambulance - Father , mother and 2 daughters. The elder daughter was the victim - she was slapped and hit over the head by his father. I examined the girl and found the girl had cerebral concussion. She told me that the assaulter was her father. I arranged a CT scan and interviewed the mother for the further information. It was a simple matter, the father wanted to borrow the daughter's hand phone and she denied. The father was walking in and out from the ED and mumbling about he had raised the daughter for 18 years and he only slapped her likely over the face. But lightly my ASSS...the upperlips was severe swollen and bruise. There was a hematoma over her vertex. The police came later after the scan. The police had a conversation with the family. You know what, one the police adviced the daughter not to lodge a report as it would make the poor relation between the daugther and father worse. It was not the 1st time the father hit the daughter...I whispered the 4 letter word started with F while hearing the conversation...
When the police left, I approached the mother and told her about the further management plan. I adviced them to lodge the report and told them I would admit her and get help from the social service to help them tomorrow...
Before the patient was sent up, the father came to the ED desk and asked us what was the condition of the daughter. I told him that his daugther suffered from cerebral concussion and I would like to admit her for further observation. He burst out and stressed again that he slapped the daughter's face lightly only and there was no way that any cerebral concussion could happen. He then asked for a transfer. In the past I would gladly concurred with such decision, but this time, I turned down his request. Eventhough he was the sole guardian(the couple had divorced and the father had the custody of the kids..), I still had the right to place the child under my care and responsibility as he was the assaulter. I then asked my nurse to call the police. The police came fast and asked the father to leave. They even threatened him that they would lock him up if he go near the hospital again. The father left with a pissed off face...

2 hrs later, the ward nurse called me that the father had gone to the ward and asked the nurse to arrange for a transfer. I summoned the police and went up to the ward to calm him first. He still querry my diagnosis and insisting a transfer. I told him that I would not transfer her stat but would assist them for a transfer tomorrow morning. But the father still insist...The police finally came and escorted him back to the station...I did not see him again that night...

Never never hit your children....that was the lesson I learnt that night...