In 2000, the Scottish Executive Health published guidance for health professionals, highlighting their role in protecting children. Under this guidance, specific responsibilities were allocated to all health professionals, NHS Trust, and the health board to fulfill their duties in protecting children. The guidance suggested a protocol for recording a clinical examination for children suspected of being abused however, there were no specific instructions issued on the nature of child sexual abuse (CSA) examinations or the training requirements of doctors who examine these children. To establish how widely guidance on child protection was being followed, as well as to capture demographic information, experience and training in CSA examinations, work practices involved during and following the actual examination, methods of interagency working, and participation in continuous professional development, a questionnaire survey was designed and implemented with a representative sample of practitioners in Scotland. Results indicate that in Scotland, the medical examination of CSA victims is practiced by about one in five pediatricians and forensic medical examiners, and the medical assessment of children who disclose sexual abuse is a low-volume, highly specialized activity. Overall, the results showed that throughout Scotland the care offered to children and the service provided to the courts are suboptimal. References