Evaluation of child maltreatment in the emergency department setting: an overview for behavioral health providers

Abstract

Emergency providers are confronted with medical, social, and legal dilemmas with each case of possible child maltreatment. Keeping a high clinical suspicion is key to diagnosing latent abuse. Child abuse, especially sexual abuse, is best handled by a multidisciplinary team including emergency providers, nurses, social workers, and law enforcement trained in caring for victims and handling forensic evidence. The role of the emergency provider in such cases is to identify abuse, facilitate a thorough investigation, treat medical needs, protect the patient, provide an unbiased medical consultation to law enforcement, and provide an ethical testimony if called to court.

Keywords: Child abuse; Child maltreatment; Emergency; Nonaccidental trauma; Retinal hemorrhage; Rib fractures; Sexual abuse; Shaken-baby syndrome.