Sexual abuse allegations are the hardest form of child abuse to substantiate. This will be the first of several posts on the subject, and you are invited to participate. Sexual abuse of children is a very real and serious phenomenon. From Internet predators to a drunk father fondling his little girl, the problem is omnipresent all over the world. Some abusers go into action while their children are still pre-pubertal: they are pedophiles - adults sexually attracted to children - frequently boys as well as girls. Other abusers find victims in those who have sexually matured. And not all abusers are men. Less frequently recognized are adult women who molest male and female children.
One sure way to ascertain that sexual abuse has occurred is finding a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the victim. That's why children should have physical examinations and cultures taken of all orifices as part of an evaluation. If, for example, gonorrhea is cultured from a child's mouth, eyes, vagina, penis or anus (or more than one place) that is clear-cut evidence that such abuse has occurred. A blood test might reveal the presence of syphilis. Unfortunately, with most allegations of sexual abuse, no physical evidence is found. What to do?
Future posts will discuss evaluating sexual abuse in children. While some evaluators take a professional and non-political approach to these evaluators, others have made a big business calling themselves “validators,” as if they alone can find the truth of what has happened to a child. As we'll see, it's not that easy.
As always, your comments are welcome.
One sure way to ascertain that sexual abuse has occurred is finding a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the victim. That's why children should have physical examinations and cultures taken of all orifices as part of an evaluation. If, for example, gonorrhea is cultured from a child's mouth, eyes, vagina, penis or anus (or more than one place) that is clear-cut evidence that such abuse has occurred. A blood test might reveal the presence of syphilis. Unfortunately, with most allegations of sexual abuse, no physical evidence is found. What to do?
Future posts will discuss evaluating sexual abuse in children. While some evaluators take a professional and non-political approach to these evaluators, others have made a big business calling themselves “validators,” as if they alone can find the truth of what has happened to a child. As we'll see, it's not that easy.
As always, your comments are welcome.
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