title: [Clinical forensic examination findings and legal outcome in cases of suspected physical child abuse].
abstract: Clinical forensic examinations performed at the Institute of Legal Medicine of the Hanover Medical School between 1999 and 2008 in cases of suspected physical abuse of children were analyzed retrospectively with special emphasis on the legal consequences. Altogether, 192 children (85 girls, 107 boys) with a median age of 4.4 years were examined. In 47 cases (24.5 %), the clinical forensic examination findings were interpreted as accidental injuries, birth traumas or unspecific findings. 29 victims (20.0 %) had suffered a shaken baby syndrome. Only part of the presented cases ended with conviction, which was more likely if the victims were aged between 7 and 11 years. Prison terms of 2 years and more were imposed only if the child suffered potentially or acute life-threatening injuries or if additional anogenital lesions were diagnosed indicating sexual child abuse.
authors: Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover.
authors: Stefanie
authors: S
authors: Bode-Jänisch
authors: Yvonne
authors: Y
authors: Meyer
authors: Günter
authors: G
authors: Schroeder
authors: Detlef
authors: D
authors: Günther
authors: Anette Solveig
authors: AS
authors: Debertin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001497:Battered Child Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D038642:Shaken Baby Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology