Welcome to another week.
A medical researcher in the Netherlands has concluded that the surveys Dutch doctors use to detect child abuse very often leads to false accusations. As of 2011, all emergency rooms and GPs in the country have to fill out a child abuse detection questionnaire whenever they treat a child. It is currently the only country in the world which has this kind of mandatory screening for child abuse.
The article tells us:
“Schouten investigated over 5 thousand such questionnaires from five Utrecht doctors. For her study, she kept track of how many negative and positive scores there were, and then how many of those children were in touch with child welfare or were reported to the child abuse hotline in the following 10 months. She found that in 92 out of 100 cases the suspicions were unfounded. And in 1 out of 100 cases, signs of child abuse were missed. “
The researcher proposes that instead of accusing parents straight off, developing good communication with families and approaching any injuries with a view to working out what caused them first, are far better ways to safeguard children.
Whilst the UK does not employ exactly the same methods when it comes to detecting child abuse, the GMC have issued ethical guidelines for doctors which are at face value positive and pro communication and support. This is an extract from the guidance:
“Child protection is a difficult area of practice that can involve making decisions that are emotionally challenging, complicated by uncertainty and sometimes go against the wishes of parents.3 Doctors should work with parents and families, where possible, to make sure that children and young people receive the care and support they need. But in cases where the interests and wishes of parents may put the safety of the child or young person at risk, doctors must put the interests of the child or young person first.4 Failure to act when a child or young person is at risk can have serious consequences for both the child and their family.”
However, there are similar problems with incorrect diagnoses of abuse here. Whilst child abuse referrals have soared, the level of child abuse actually detected has not increased. In the past false accusations have been made through diagnoses based on photographs . Other methods such as secretly filming parents and diagnosing mothers with controversial mental health disorders have also been used to detect abuse, but continue to cause debate.
Our question then, is just this: what could the UK child protection system do to ensure better detection of child abuse and a reduction in rates of false diagnoses?
We have very strong views about this, but we’ll hand over the floor to you.
Children under 7 yrs old cannot invent graphic stories of sexual abuse they have either SEEN it or experienced it. IF on the odd occasions proven false accusations are made, then follow Germany – Those who state rape and sexual abuse proven to be false and malicious are named and sentenced themselves receiving the sentence the alleged abuser would have had !! A deterrent I would think ! Maybe the system used by the Dutch is flawed ? FAR too many cases in UK are told ” it doesn’t fit the criteria” and MANY abused children are slipping through the so called net. The criteria is different between social services ;police and CPS an t should be SEAMLESS. COMMON SENSE in PREVENTING potential harm seems to have left the debate a long tie back, over ridden by financial cutbacks and resources .Sadly the debate goes round and round and the BEST WAY IS TO drill into real education ABOUT GROOMING – see EAUK. BUT in real terms few people have the diet for REAL change ! Government should listen to THOSE OF US who HAVE BEEN THERE – experts through life experience the NHS now call it don’t they?
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Children under 7 may not be able to invent accounts of sexual abuse but they can certainly be coached so it does not follow at all that such a child must be believed at all times.
False allegations of sexual abuse are second only to false allegations of domestic abuse in the “Family” Courts and are exceedingly effective at removing fathers from their children’s lives due to the difficulty of proving a negative, and the inadequate training of police, social workers and CAFCASS workers.
The idea that false allegations would be investigated, identified, and punished is, frankly, nonsense. When it is becomes clear that such allegations have been made to gain a tactical advantage then the general approach is to treat them like a fart in a lift – nobody refers to it in the hope that it will dissipate.
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I fear we are still failing the vulnerable by not listening – really listening, and examining ALL aspects of the evidence placed before those trusted with hearing, listening – and acting upon what is recounted in front of them.
Too often lawyers twist evidence and make the vulnerable appear uncertain; causing them to look foolish, or their evidence to seem untruthful. This might be justified in criminal courts, but surely not in cases involving child exploitation? Vulnerable children and frightened mothers should not be subjected to such cruelty.
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Reblogged this on Musings of a Penpusher and commented:
I fear we are still failing the vulnerable by not listening – really listening, and examining ALL aspects of the evidence placed before those trusted with hearing, listening – and acting upon what is recounted in front of them.
Too often lawyers twist evidence and make the vulnerable appear uncertain; causing them to look foolish, or their evidence to seem untruthful. This might be justified in criminal courts, but surely not in cases involving child exploitation? Vulnerable children and frightened mothers should not be subjected to such cruelty.
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“what could the UK child protection system do to ensure better detection of child abuse and a reduction in rates of false diagnoses?”
The SS should always allow the GP dealing with those parents and children to give a professional written statement showing if there is any signs of abuse.this should be dont the day after the SS are involved, not 5 weeks later as happened in our case.
due to the danger of corruption, Social workers should never be allowed to make decisions relating to possible abuse of children which would then be submitted to the court. these people have no medical training or expertise therefore their case files should not be accepted in any court of Law.
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Reblogged this on World4Justice : NOW! Lobby Forum..
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A child snatcher’s paradise if you ask me ! Fill in a dodgy form so the “SS” can say here is another child we can snatch and the child is then sent off to wealthy pédophiles who really do abuse the child
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