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Thu Jun 21 2001
Researchers Say Doctors Often Misread Child Genitalia
Many physicians who examine
children’s genitalia do not
recognize normal genital variation.
Consequently, they refer
children to specialists in child
sex abuse for unwarranted
exams—wasting money and
causing unnecessary stress for
the children and their families.
So conclude Kathryn Bowen,
M.D., and Michael B. Aldous,
M.D., in their research report,
"Medical Evaluation of Sexual
Abuse in Children Without
Disclosed or Witnessed Abuse,"
153 Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine No. 11 (Nov.
1999).
In an accompanying editorial,
pediatrician Joyce Adams notes
the severe consequences of
overdiagnosis of child sex abuse
and calls on her profession to
establish diagnostic and training
standards. She also urges
doctors who refer a child for an
abuse exam to await the results
before giving an opinion to the
family, police, or a child protection
agency.
Copyright © 2003 David S. Marshall
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