“Watchful waiting”: everyday ethical caring practices of general practitioners in cases of intimate partner violence

Abstract

This article focuses on the ethical caring practices of general practitioners in dealing with intimate partner violence. In-depth interviews were conducted with general practitioners to inquire about their concrete experiences and conflicts, which were then submitted to a thematic analysis based on Tronto’s elements of an ethics of care. The results show the difficulties faced by general practitioners when it comes to clarifying their patients’ caring needs, determining what is meant by competent care and dealing with the conflicting expectations of the caregiver and care receiver particular to the issue of intimate partner violence.