The role of the medical provider in the evaluation of sexually abused children and adolescents.
It was only 30 years ago that the medical community began to develop an increased awareness of child sexual abuse, and the role of the medical provider in the evaluation of sexually abused children has evolved significantly. As clinicians worldwide develop a greater understanding of the impact of the sexual abuse evaluation on the child, the roles of the physician and nurse have changed. In the United States, current practice often uses a multidisciplinary assessment involving skilled forensic interviewing of the child and a medical examination done by a medical provider with specialized training in sexual abuse. In order to minimize child interviews, these assessments are frequently held in settings such as child advocacy centers, where forensic interviewers and medical clinicians, child protective service workers, and police and district attorneys can work jointly to address the legal and protective issues in a coordinated fashion.
Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. Alice.newton@childrens.harvard.edu
Alice Whittier
AW
Newton
Andrea Marie
AM
Vandeven
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002651:Child Advocacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012947:Social Work; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology