NCJ Number
145830
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: (1992) Pages: 113-122
Date Published
1992
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Physicians who examine children who are suspected of being sexually abused must be familiar and comfortable with normal genital and anal anatomy, and physical findings of abuse, as well as skillful in recording data accurately.
Abstract
In many cases, children reporting sexual abuse will not present specific physical symptoms; where such findings are present, they are likely to be subtle bruises or abrasions. The efforts of professional medical groups to establish consensus on the range of possible findings and their meanings have been hampered by the difficulty of finding valid experimental populations for child sexual abuse. The colposcope has been instrumental in providing a basis for standardization of examinations and interpretation of findings. However, the quality of an examination is only as good as the practitioner and technique used, particularly with regard to hymenal findings. The physician must be aware that the ability of the State to prosecute a child sexual abuse case often rests upon the quality of the medical history and manner in which it is presented. Therefore, the examination must include a physical evaluation as well as an opportunity for the physician to question the child regarding possible experiences of abuse. 15 references