New guidance on identifying victims of non-lethal strangulation in domestic violence attacks is likely, with research showing these women are at vastly increased risk of being murdered.

Speaking at the AMA conference in Brisbane last week, Dr Jill Tomlinson said it was vital for medical professionals to ask women about incidents because often their injuries left no external signs.

“These attacks need to be identified. They are red flags,” she told Australian Doctor.

“There are also health implications, such as brain damage, pneumonitis, miscarriage, injury to the carotid arteries, memory loss and even delayed death days or weeks after assault.