Medical examinations

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The police or Child Protection may want your child to have a medical examination. There are two reasons for this. The most important reason is to ensure that your child is okay medically; that they do not have any infection, or injury that needs treatment.

The second reason is to assist with possible Court proceedings. The presence of some sign of sexual trauma may help with an investigation by providing medical evidence that the child has been sexually abused. However the absence of medical evidence does not mean that the abuse did not happen. This type of examination is called a forensic paediatric examination. Child Protection policy is to always obtain a parent's consent to a medical examination to the extent this is in the child's best interest. In addition, consistent with the protection of human rights of children and, in particular the right of children to not be subjected to medical treatment unwillingly, where a child is of an appropriate age and maturity and has capacity to provide consent they will be involved in any decision to receive medical treatment.

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Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 11 Jun 2010