Mandatory Child Abuse Case Study

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States have adopted mandatory child abuse reporting statutes in compliance with the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act that provide civil and criminal immunity to persons making a “good faith” report of child abuse. These statutes also mandate that certain professionals such as physicians, nurses and other allied health professionals, social workers, teachers and law enforcement officials must report cases of child abuse of which they become aware in their professional duties. Physicians are an important source of reporting suspected cases of child abuse because they are often one of the first persons to see the abused child (Warner & Hansen, 1994). Two exceptions to the professionals mandated to report are attorneys who have