THE PRESENTATION WAS MADE DURING GRAND ROUNDS AT THE CENTER AND OPENS WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO ADMITTING PHYSICIANS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WORKING IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, CONCERNING THE MANAGEMENT OF CASES IN WHICH ABUSE IS SUSPECTED. THE CENTER'S CHILD ABUSE TEAM, ITS ORGANIZATION, AND ITS FUNCTIONS ARE DESCRIBED. A CHART SHOWING THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE WASHINGTON, D.C., AGENCIES THAT DEAL WITH CHILD ABUSE IS PRESENTED. GUIDELINES TO BE FOLLOWED IN REFERRING CASES OF SUSPECTED ABUSE TO THE HOSPITAL'S SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT ARE OUTLINED. DRAWING ON A CASE STUDY INVOLVING THE ADMISSION OF A SUSPECTED ABUSE CASE AND SUBSEQUENT LEGAL ACTION, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE JUVENILE DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF THE CORPORATION COUNSEL IN WASHINGTON, D.C., DISCUSSES THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PHYSICIAN WHO IS CALLED TO TESTIFY IN HEARINGS TO DETERMINE WHETHER A CHILD SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE CUSTODY OF PARENTS/GUARDIANS SUSPECTED OF ABUSE. A SIMULATED EXAMINATION/CROSS-EXAMINATION OF A PHYSICIAN IN SUCH A CASE IS PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED. AREAS IN WHICH DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ARE LIKELY TO ATTACK THE PHYSICIAN'S TESTIMONY ARE EMPHASIZED. RESPONDING TO PHYSICIANS' QUESTIONS, THE CORPORATION COUNSEL REPRESENTATIVE NOTES THAT PHYSICIANS SHOULD ALWAYS REPORT CASES IN WHICH THEY SUSPECT ABUSE, EVEN IF THEY FEEL THE ABUSE MAY NOT WARRANT POLICE/COURT INTERVENTION, AND THAT EMERGENCY ROOM AND PRIVATE PRACTICE PHYSICIANS SHOULD NOTIFY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S YOUTH DIVISION WHEN PARENTS/GUARDIANS IN CASES OF SUSPECTED ABUSE REFUSE TO HAVE THE CHILD HOSPITALIZED. (LKM)