Citation

Gerlach K. Ther. Umsch. 2008; 65(7): 381-388.

Vernacular Title

Kindliche Opfer sexueller und korperlicher Gewalt.

Affiliation

Institut fur Rechtsmedizin der Universitat Basel.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Verlag Hans Huber)

DOI

10.1024/0040-5930.65.7.381

PMID

18622921

Abstract

Child abuse may result in dramatic short and longtime dagae of children's physical and emotional well being. This underscores the clinician's special responsibility to contribute a sound professional and scientific approach to the multiprofessional diagnosis and intervention in suspected child abuse cases. The approach is to correlate the probability of a given finding with the history and comparing it to biomechanical principles. Of concern are especially all serious injuries with an alleged trivial or inadequate for age mechanism, missing, vague or changing patterns of explanation, injuries of different age, delay of medical care and allegations by independent observers or even the child. Exact documentation of all medical examinations is the basis of any forensic expertise if child abuse is to be considered. This paper ist dealing with morhological findings following various kinds of violence which can often be observed in connection with cild abuse, as well as the interpretation of characterstic patterns of findings. Furthermore, practicable procedures after diagnosing child abuse ar being discussed on the basis of legal terms.

Language: de