A forensic nurse and associate professor at George Mason University has discovered and developed a method to more easily detect dark-skinned bruises in hopes of helping more victims of domestic violence and abuse.
PhD. Katherine Scafide, a former emergency room and trauma nurse, said she was surprised by the number of serious injuries she saw.
This prompted her to work in forensic care to help victims of domestic violence.
“I’m fascinated by the special care they need at a time when they’re so vulnerable,” Scafide said.
Injuries like bruises are harder to see with the naked eye, especially when the victim is a person of color, she said.
“I don’t have anything to document without seeing them,” Scaffield said. “If I can’t document the injuries, unfortunately for those who have experienced this kind of violence, they don’t have the evidence to really back up what might be Prosecute the attackers.”
“If I can’t document the injuries, then unfortunately for those who have experienced this kind of violence, they have no evidence to really support a possible prosecution of the attackers.”
PhD.Katherine Scarfield
Scafide started researching alternative light sources (ALS) with specific wavelengths, hoping to find a solution to the problem.
“We were able to discover which wavelengths provided the best ability to detect bruises,” Scafide said. “We found that blue and purple lights worked best.”
A study led by Scafide found that ALS was five times better at detecting bruises on all skin tones than white light.
She said the technology is working in Baltimore, Mercy Medical has started using it, and it has been introduced into court evidence in a number of domestic violence and battery cases. Scafide hopes to expand the use of the technology regionally and nationally.
“Forensic care units are not necessarily adopting this device for a number of reasons: due to lack of clinical practice guidelines, cost of equipment, concerns about not having enough research to support their practice, and we’re looking to change that,” Scafide said.
Scafide said the forensic care unit at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville, Maryland, is looking forward to adopting the technology, but to do so her team must work closely with prosecutors and law enforcement.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey noted that nearly one in two women reported experiencing physical, sexual or being stalked by an intimate partner at some point in their lives. Slightly more black women (nearly 54 percent) reported experiencing violence or stalking.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visit www.thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522.