David Foreman, a child and adolescent mental health specialist, and barrister Juliet Williams made the call in the British Medical Journal. They said better guidance is needed to prevent doctors being deterred from raising concerns about child abuse and to restore confidence in child protection processes.
The pair also said the number of complaints against paediatricians relating to child abuse work has increased by more than 500 per cent between 1995 and 2003.
Moreover, since 2003, registrations of children for emotional and sexual abuse have increased, while those for physical and sexual abuse have diminished. Foreman and Williams said this suggests that doctors may be avoiding work that is related to abuse, for which more detailed physical examinations are needed.
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