Medizinischer Kinderschutz: Misshandlungen erkennen und überlegt intervenieren

Abstract

The qualified medical contribution to diagnosing child abuse and protecting children requires awareness, emotional engagement and professional knowledge. The strategy and approach depends on the context of the presentation and the estimated degree of the child’s endangerment. A structured approach based on special guidelines is helpful, in the clinical setting preferably by means of establishing a child protection team. Child protection must necessarily be realized in a multi-professional manner within the clinical setting as well as in cooperation with external institutions. The well-being of the child is the focus of attention and superior to forensic considerations. Medical child protection covers all settings in which health care providers care for abused children. Various medical professions are potentially involved. Medical child protection has developed from a less attended subject to a differentiated and multifaceted medical specialist field.