Citation

Okuyama M. Jpn. Med. Assn. J. JMAJ 2006; 49(11-12): 370-374.

Affiliation

Department of Psychosocial Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Japan Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Over the past 15 years, significant progress has been achieved in the intervention of child abuse. However, while the number of child abuse cases discovered has increased, there has been no decrease in the number of cases of children dying as a result of abuse. The role healthcare has to play in saving such children is increasingly important, but at present we cannot really say that a healthcare system for treating abuse has been established. This paper examines the current situation of medical system regarding child abuse treatment in Japan, presenting an overview of the issues now requiring attention, particularly the need for: 1) education of child abuse for all physicians and other healthcare personnel; 2) establishment of internal hospital systems for child abuse; 3) establishment of community healthcare systems for intervention of child abuse; 4) collaboration between various medical fields for child abuse; 5) establishment of abuse treatment as a specialized medical field; and 6) establishment of child death review system.