title: The medicalization and legalization of child abuse.
abstract: Certain symptoms of family crisis and childhood injury are being "medicalized," "legalized," and called "child abuse"--to be processed and dealt with by a range of professionals who derive their social legitimacy and support in the process. Professional conflicts are considered, and the effects of the system on treatment interventions are discussed. Guidelines are offered to minimize the abuse of power of the professional definers.
mesh_terms: D001497:Battered Child Syndrome; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002651:Child Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005196:Family Therapy; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D012306:Risk; D014481:United States