Repeated episodes of physical child abuse
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Date
2010
Authors
Fernando, D. M. G.
Dayaratne, K. M. P. L.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION
According to Berard Knight the ‘child abuse syndrome” exists when an infant or child suffers repetitive physical injuries inflicted by a parent or guardian, in circumstances that exclude accident.' Physical abuse represents approximately 70% of child abuse cases and may range from minor bruises to fatal hacmatomas.
We report a case where the child has been repeatedly released into the same hazardous environment, in spite of a diagnosis of physical child abuse being made by pediatricians and judicial medical officers. The child has been subjected to repeated abuse resulting in multiple hospital admissions with 7 long bone frictures, multiple rib fractures and other life threatening injuries in her short life span of 20 months,
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Keywords
Child abuse syndrome , Forensic medicine , Judicial Medical Officer
Citation
Sri Lanka Journal of Forensic Medeicine, Science and Law 2010 Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 20-22