Child abuse contact protective services or confront parents?

[phd89]

So we often hear of these questions that a child comes in with a fracture and upon examination you see things that alert you to child abuse whats the next best step?

1.Call child protective services
or
2. confront the parents about abuse

I've seen different answers in different question backs. But in real life don't you do both at the same time confront the parents and call protective services even if you have a doubt of abuse

Can the answer different from situation to situation or is it always clear-cut one and if so which one then?

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[Phloston]

So we often hear of these questions that a child comes in with a fracture and upon examination you see things that alert you to child abuse whats the next best step?

1.Call child protective services
or
2. confront the parents about abuse

I've seen different answers in different question backs. But in real life don't you do both at the same time confront the parents and call protective services even if you have a doubt of abuse

Can the answer different from situation to situation or is it always clear-cut one and if so which one then?

You never confront the parents about suspected abuse. Your assessment of abuse comes from physical examination of the child and his or her behavior. If you suspect abuse, contact the appropriate authorities without confronting the parents. This is because the parents may flee with the child if you confront, and obviously they would never admit to the abuse, so it would be pointless to probe them; if the caretaker is intelligent, this probing may actually do more harm than good because people can be well-spoken and seem extremely friendly on the outside. So confronting could cause further harm to the child, even if you contact authorities immediately after the caretaker + child flee.

This is the same for elder abuse. You don't confront the caretaker about your suspicions. You just contact the appropriate authorities.

For domestic abuse, you don't contact the partner and you don't report it either. You give the wife (or husband) information about abuse shelters. <-- That's actually straight from the NBMEs, so the USMLE tests that.

 

[phd89]

thanks yeah needed that to be cleared up

 

[gulmohr]

For domestic abuse, you don't contact the partner and you don't report it either. You give the wife (or husband) information about abuse shelters. <-- That's actually straight from the NBMEs, so the USMLE tests that.

Didn't know that. Thanks man.

 

[FutureInternist]

Didn't know that. Thanks man.

Children and elderly cannot take care of themselves therefore report to CPS/APS
Adults --> give info to them