HOW WILL THE CASE OF ABUSE OF BABY AN BE HANDLED WHEN IN THE US?
Reading the articles about the case of violence against Baby An, I feel extremely sad. How can a child only 8 years old endure such suffering?
I have seen many good articles discussing many aspects of this tragic story, so today I want to share a perspective from American society to help you better understand how to work in the US.
If you study medicine and do residency training in the US, you should know these things to work according to procedures and laws.
1. US REGULATIONS ON CHILDREN'S VIOLENCE
According to Federal Law in the US, if a child shows signs of suspected abuse, the following groups of people have the duty to REPORT.
Social workers, teachers, school principals and all education staff, doctors and nurses. All medical staff, psychologists, babysitters, coroners, and police and legal staff.
These people are called MANDATORY REPORTERS.
In addition to these groups of people who have DUTIES to report, anyone can report if they want. The reporter has the right to remain anonymous to ensure safety.
1.1. Report to whom?
- Local Child Protective Services
- National Child Protective Services Hotline (national Child Protective Services Hotline 1.800.422.4453)
- Police
- The above individuals are also obliged to report to the organization they are working for. For example, a doctor working in a hospital who encounters a case of suspected child abuse needs to report it to the head of the department.
1.2. What happens after reporting?
- Once Children’s Protection (CPS) receives the report, they will review the file and decide whether to open an investigation.
If an investigation is decided, the specialist will interview the family, parents, child, and others involved to determine whether the child is in danger or not. - During the investigation, CPS may separate the child from the family to protect the child.
- If the investigation results confirm that the child is a victim of family abuse, the parents or guardian may lose custody of the child. Temporary or permanent.
Parents may also be held criminally liable. - The most common reasons why parents lose custody of their children include abuse, neglect, domestic violence, use of illegal substances in the child’s presence, and violation of court orders.
2. SUSPECTED SIGNS OF VIOLENCE
- Bruises (BRUISING) any area in a child under four months
- Bruises to the trunk, ears and neck areas
2.1 Bruises to the ears (BOXING EARS sign)
2.2 Bruises to the buttocks
2.3 Patterned bruises (hands, belts, belts, foreign objects)
2.4 Bruises at all stages Different stages of treatment
2.5 Burn injuries. - On the trunk, ears or neck in children four years old or younger, or bruising
- Intracranial hemorrhage, head injury.
- Failure to thrive accompanied by signs of physical abuse
- Dental caries is a sign of neglect (neglect)
- Patchy hair loss can be a sign of hair loss due to trauma (traumatic alopecia) or severe malnutrition (severe malnutrition)
- Retinal hemorrhages
- In addition, medical staff should perform a thorough examination—palpate the neck, trunk, and extremities to detect fractures not visible on X-ray; and nervous systems to detect neurological injuries.
3. WHEN YOU DISCOVER THESE SIGNS, WHAT NEED TO DO NEXT?
- For children under 2 years old, a complete body X-ray (Complete Skeletal survey) is needed.
- For older children who can speak and point to painful areas, only necessary X-rays are needed.
- In addition, depending on the results of the examination, blood tests can be done for further diagnosis.
Please comment “yes” if this article is useful to you.
Dr. Christina Nguyen
~ The Phoenix Medical Academy
