Doctors Told to Detain Children in Hospital if They Suspect Abuse

Doctors should detain a child in hospital if they suspect abuse and alert key agencies, such as social services and police, according to guidance published today.

Recommendations on child protection issued by the British Medical Association — the first to focus specifically on the role of doctors — say that GPs and consultants should take immediate action when dealing with children who may be at risk.

They include keeping a child in hospital against parental wishes if it appears that injuries are not accidental and the child may be subjected to further harm. The guidelines also advise that in such cases it may be in the best interests of the child to undertake an examination without explicit parental consent.

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