Buggery in Childhood-a Common Syndrome of Child Abuse

Parents' perceptions of taking babies' rectal temperature.

“…There is often a sensuality to Concerned about being less able to comfort child 13 Concerned about child's feelings 9 Considered procedure to be more appropriate for professional 8 Had difficulty in keeping child still 11 Had practical problem ofprovocation of bowel action 7 Preferred axillary measurement 36 these experiences. Possibly the sexual connotation of this activity may have been highlighted when parents were confronted with using a thermometer rectally, introducing unease.…”

Anal lesions presenting in a cohort of child gastroenterological examinations. Implications for sexual traumatic injuries

“…This description is specific to children who have suffered sexual abuse. As such, it must be suggestive of sexual assault [35]. Intermittent contraction of the anal sphincters is described in 62% of children with anal dilatation [11].…”

R v Klamo: an example of miscommunication and misunderstanding of expert evidence where the conviction was overturned

“…This sort of calculation is impossible, just ask Professor Drummer 3 , and is akin to the make-believe of 1665; no forensic pathologist or forensic toxicologist would give such evidence. In the 1980s, paediatricians reported a clinical sign -reflex anal dilatation -not seen in 'normal children', which therefore purported to allow the conclusion of anal penetration in children 4 . The specificity of this sign has subsequently been discredited.…”