The guidelines are intended mainly for use by medical investigators, but are also helpful to social workers, law enforcement personnel, and parents or other professionals exposed to the problem of child abuse. An overview classifies child abuse into six categories: obvious abuse, subtle abuse, single assaults, neglect, accidental, and false or no abuse. The guidelines next explain the eight stages involved in handling a case: discovery, reporting, meeting with victim and/or parents, interviews of witnesses, interview and confrontation of suspect, discussions with prosecuting attorneys, consultation with experts, and legal proceedings. Detailed clinical and pathological guidelines are also given. Further sections cover the investigation of sexual molestation, medicolegal considerations, the investigation of nonmedical aspects of the case, and factors other than abuse that may account for physical signs. Glossary, index, appended tables, lists of 11 books and 425 journal articles, and reprint of an article on missing children.