Human Rights Commission chair urges hospitals to restore domestic-violence screening practices

Annie Frohnen York, interim chair of the Morgantown Human Rights Commission, told City Council on July 22 that she believes hospital emergency departments have stopped asking standard domestic-violence screening questions and instead use less specific wording that, in her view, fails to identify victims.

York, speaking during public comment, said federal law requires hospital screening for domestic violence and that hospitals receiving certification and funding must have written policies and procedures. She said emergency departments previously used more direct screening methods and supported discreet reporting mechanisms; she criticized current practice and recounted a recent personal visit when triage staff did not ask screening questions despite her asking after four hours in the emergency room.

“I asked the nurse after being there for four hours, ‘do you screen for domestic violence anymore?’” York said. “Of course we do. They ask those questions in triage. I went through triage, and they did not ask me any questions.” York urged council to consider ways to prompt hospitals to follow federal screening guidance and their accreditation requirements.

Councilors had no substantive action on the comment at the meeting; York said she understands some parts of the issue fall outside the council’s authority but asked whether the city could at least prompt hospital compliance through outreach or public pressure.