title: What is child sexual abuse?
abstract: This paper examines the assumptions that underlie the concept of child sexual abuse. It suggests that the meaning is confusing and that there are significant differences among those assumptions as they differentially impact on statutory requirements for clarity and precision and clinical requirements oriented toward the patient's treatment needs. Suggestions are made as to how this area of abuse might better be handled statutorily, with special emphasis on the need to consider varying community attitudes and expectations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Corrections, Hudson, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010378:Pedophilia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012725:Sexual Behavior