Legal Issues in Child Maltreatment

Emerging Trends in Smartphone Photo Documentation of Child Physical Abuse

“…In many jurisdictions, consent is not required to take photos of physical findings suspicious for abuse on children. 29 It is best practice however to always seek parental consent and document consent or refusal in the medical record. 19 Although throughout the literature, formal written consent is not obtained in the majority of cases where verbal consent has been obtained, studies show that most providers would incorporate it into their workflow if there were a simple standardized process, reinforcing the importance of a streamlined process integrated into the electronic medical record.…”

“…Several states also explicitly recommend or require the taking of photographs in cases with physical findings. However, throughout the medical community there is limited awareness of these protections 29 …”

“…In many jurisdictions, consent is not required to take photos of physical findings suspicious for abuse on children 29 . It is best practice however to always seek parental consent and document consent or refusal in the medical record 19 .…”

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Among Child Welfare–Involved Youth: An Exploratory Study of Correlates

“…When an individual notices the signs or symptoms of child maltreatment, that person may place an anonymous call to their state child protective service agency. In some cases, visible impairments (e.g., broken bones and bruises) might be present, which make a referral to child welfare not only advisable but in many cases mandatory (Narang & Melville, 2014). In addition, child welfare systems in many states now include commercialized sexual exploitation in their mandated reporting requirements and no longer classify trafficking as secondary to physical abuse and/or neglect.…”

“…In addition, child welfare systems in many states now include commercialized sexual exploitation in their mandated reporting requirements and no longer classify trafficking as secondary to physical abuse and/or neglect. In all states, individuals who regularly work with children (e.g., doctors, teachers, and social workers) are legally mandated to report any suspicion of child maltreatment or risk having their license suspended or revoked (Narang & Melville, 2014).…”