Add your conference to our Justice Events calendar

PUBLICATIONS

Stay Informed
Register with NCJRS to receive NCJRS's biweekly e-newsletter JUSTINFO and additional periodic emails from NCJRS and the NCJRS federal sponsors that highlight the latest research published or sponsored by the Office of Justice Programs.

NCJRS Abstract

The document referenced below is part of the NCJRS Virtual Library collection. To conduct further searches of the collection, visit the Virtual Library. See the Obtain Documents page for direction on how to access resources online, via mail, through interlibrary loans, or in a local library.

1 record(s) found

NCJ Number:	161328

Title:	Medical Examination for Sexual Abuse: Have We Been Misled?

Journal:	Advocate Volume:18 Issue:2 Dated:(March 1996) Pages:25-33

Author(s):	L Coleman

Date Published:	1996

Annotation:	Growing recognition of child sexual abuse has brought special problems in determining whether alleged abuse has in fact occurred, particularly since sexual assault victims may not complain immediately or may have been led to believe they were abused through leading and suggestive questioning.

Abstract:	Medical evidence is important in supporting or negating child sexual abuse, but such evidence must be based on the recognition that sexual abuse is an event rather than a diagnosis and that a finding of sexual abuse is a legal conclusion. Medical examinations of many sexual assault victims may be normal, even though victims may have a history of and a physical examination consistent with molestation. Further, medical examinations for child sexual abuse are often done long after the alleged event occurred. The questionable trend to use medical experts to prove child sexual abuse in court and contradictions in research findings on medical examiner claims are noted. The need to recognize the possibility of misdiagnosis in child sexual abuse cases and to ensure unwarranted conclusions are not reached by medical practitioners is emphasized. 69 references, 3 tables, and 11 footnotes

Main Term(s):	Juvenile victims

Index Term(s):	Abused children; Child abuse investigations; Child Sexual Abuse; Child victims; Expert witnesses; Medicolegal considerations; Sexual assault victims

Page Count:	9

Format:	Article

Type:	Survey

Language:	English

Country:	United States of America

Note:	Article published in Issues in Child Abuse Accusations, V 1, N 3 (Summer 1989)



	To cite this abstract, use the following link: http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=161328

*A link to the full-text document is provided whenever possible. For documents not available online, a link to the publisher's website is provided. Tell us how you use the NCJRS Library and Abstracts Database - send us your feedback.

PUBLICATIONS

NCJRS Abstract

Find in a Library