PRINTER'S NO. 1323
No. 103 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, EARLL, COSTA, TOMLINSON, LOGAN, MUSTO, DENT,
ERICKSON AND MURPHY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2001
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, SEPTEMBER 25, 2001
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating October 10, 2001, as "Health Cares About Domestic
2 Violence Day" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, The Family Violence Prevention Fund's National
4 Health Initiative on Domestic Violence has designated October
5 10, 2001, "Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day" across the
6 nation; and
7 WHEREAS, The importance of screening patients for symptoms of
8 domestic violence was emphasized by this legislature most
9 recently by the passage of Act 115 of 1998, which establishes
10 the Domestic Violence Health Care Response Program; and
11 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is the first state in the United States
12 to institute domestic violence universal screening; and
13 WHEREAS, For the second year in a row the Family Violence
14 Prevention Fund (FVPF) has designated Pennsylvania as the only
15 state in the Nation worthy of an "A" grade as a result of the
16 Commonwealth's Domestic Violence Health Care Laws, including the
17 Domestic Violence Health Care Response Program; and
18 WHEREAS, Health care providers are extremely vital for
1 detection and prevention of injuries related to domestic
2 violence; and
3 WHEREAS, All Pennsylvanians, particularly health care
4 providers, should be made aware of the multitude of symptoms and
5 signs associated with domestic violence; and
6 WHEREAS, Approximately only 10% of primary care physicians
7 across the nation routinely screen patients for partner abuse
8 when not currently injured; and
9 WHEREAS, Battery is a leading cause of injury to women; and
10 WHEREAS, It is estimated that nearly 4 million women are
11 physically abused each year throughout the United States; and
12 WHEREAS, Approximately 1,800 murders nationally are
13 attributed to domestic violence each year; therefore be it
14 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate October 10, 2001, as
15 "Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day"; and be it further
16 RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage all Pennsylvanians to
17 learn more about the causes, signs, prevention and treatment of
18 domestic violence.
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