A medical approach to the abuse and negligence of children cases

Abstract

Although the concepts of abuse and negligence are defined in different ways by various researchers in various areas, generally, the abuse and negligence of children can be defined as, for a child, being physically, psychologically, sexually or socially harmed; and also being in risk of losing health and security as a consequence of the actions by, chiefly parents and those who are responsible for the care, health and protection of a child, and also by other adults, which they do or neglect to do. The inputs in the literature of children abuse are gathered largely from the cases known by the relations and neighborhood and also from the cases in which athorities are involved. Considering that very few of the cases of children abuse and negligence are recorded officially, it is impossible to determine the incidence and prevalance of children abuse and negligence referring to those records. It is only possible to solve this problem by establishing and running necessary institutions and by recording every case. Therefore, it is necessary to make sure the concerning professional groups, that are most likely to encounter this phenomenon, which is in the very daily life all the time, are conscious of it; to compensate for their lack of training; and to pay attention to official recording. Moreover, it can only be reflected to the judicial mechanism and proved through the report by the physician; and this report is the only document officializing the case.