ABSTRACT
There is a legal, ethical, and moral responsibility to report and identify the known or suspected maltreatment of children.[1] Professionals charged with this hefty responsibility are only able to achieve child protection through mandated reporting when they have the knowledge and skill to recognize the subtle form of child abuse found within FDP. Barriers regarding the ability to report suspicions of abuse include inadequate knowledge, lack of confidence, reluctance to initiate law enforcement involvement, family loyalty, and concern regarding victim impact.[2]
When a child’s caregiver regularly presents a physician with false information and the physician fails to file a mandated report for suspected abuse, the physician has been civilly sued for medical negligence and failure to report suspected (child) abuse.[3] In some states, criminal punishment also attaches for failing to report known or suspected abuse.
