Citation

Merrick J. Ugeskr. Laeger 1989; 151(15): 929-932.

Vernacular Title

Bornemishandling og omsorgssvigt. 3. En undersogelse fra retslaegeradet 1970-79.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Den Alm Danske Laegerforening)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2711506

Abstract

The object of this investigation was to study cases of child abuse and neglect presented to the Danish Medico-Legal Council during 1970 through 1979. A total of 38 children were registered in this retrospective study. The material consisted of 17 boys, 19 girls and two cases where the sex was not stated. The perpetrator was the biological father in ten cases, the mother in 13 cases, in two cases the stepfather, in two cases a babysitter, four cases where the perpetrator was known to the family, one case unknown to the victim and six cases where the perpetrator was not identified. The questions to the Medico-Legal Council where 24 cases were concerned were a discrepant history and evaluation of the lesions, six cases of a pharmacological nature, six cases where evaluation of the perpetrators mental state was required and two cases where the Council was asked to estimate whether the child would have survived, if correct treatment had been instituted in time. Evaluation was multidisciplinary, the expedition time fair and the answers to police and judicial system relevant, even though some of the doctors were reluctant to state definitely, whether child abuse was concerned. It is recommended that a forensic officer and a pediatrician should always participate in the evaluation.

Language: da