Medical Findings and Legal Outcomes in Sexually Abused Children

• NCJ Number: 229690
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 55 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2010 Pages: 104-109
• Author(s): Lene Aagaared Hansen, M.D.; Soren Johan Mikkelsen, M.D.; Svend Sabroe, M.D.; Annie Vesterby Charles, M.D., D.MSc.
• Date Published: January 2010
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: This work was presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Science, February 21-26, 2005, in New Orleans, LA, and the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Science, February 19-24, 2007, in San Antonio TX.

Annotation

A previous study published in 2000 on a small group of children concluded that the medical examination in cases of sexual child abuse seldom provided legal proof of sexual abuse (J Forensic Sci 45[2000]:115-7). The present consecutive study included children referred to the police for a forensic medical examination.

Abstract

A colposcope was used to evaluate the anogenital findings which were classified as normal, non-specific, and abnormal. Four hundred and eighty-two children were included. Abnormal anogenital findings were found in 38 percent of the girls and 20 percent of the boys, but there was no relation between abnormal anogenital findings and the two legal outcomes: "appearing in court" and "being convicted." However, the age of the child turned out to be a more important factor in relation to legal outcome than the physical findings. The results of this study suggest that the child's statement and not the physical findings were important for legal outcome. 5 tables, 1 figure, and 28 references (Published abstract)