Dear Annie: Your primary care provider can help in domestic abuse situations

Dear Annie: The information you gave regarding the National Domestic Abuse Hotline is wonderful. In addition, I’d like to encourage Trapped, or any other woman (or man or child!), to reach out to their primary care provider. We are usually aware of our local women’s shelters and can move women and children immediately — often from our office and out a back door if needed — to a safe place. Trapped can make an appointment with her provider for an annual checkup. If he insists on going into the exam room, after the nurse does blood pressure, etc., she can ask to use the bathroom and slip a prewritten note to the nurse or leave the note in the bathroom. That should prompt the provider to make her husband leave the exam room. Unfortunately, I’ve had to do this too often in my practice. — Nurse Practitioner Who’s Been There

Dear Nurse Practitioner: Thank you for your letter. Reaching out to your primary care provider is a wonderful suggestion for those suffering domestic abuse.

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“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected].