ABSTRACT
Abuse and neglect of handicapped children involve a class of victims with whom physicians and other health professionals are quite likely to have direct contact in the course of providing care and treatment related to their handicapping conditions. This chapter explores relevant aspects of the present system for delivery of health services to handicapped children and their families, as well as present specific strategies for detecting, documenting, and preventing maltreatment of these particularly vulnerable youngsters. Medical costs associated with the child's care may pose a serious threat to the family's financial security and serve as a source of discord among other family members who feel their own basic needs are being subordinated to those of the disabled child. Medical specialists involved in caring for specific subpopulations of handicapped youngsters should be apprised of the need to maintain a high index of suspicion regarding possible abuse and neglect of the young patients they serve.
