DOCTORS MUST REPORT ABUSE CASES
GHs have One-Stop Crisis Centre to filter cases, says specialist
MORE often than not, medical practitioners are the first in line to come into contact with child abuse victims. These children are taken to private or government clinics by either their parents or their caregivers, who could also be the perpetrators, to be treated for what is claimed as normal injuries.
In some cases, the doctors would ask the parents or the caregivers to take the child to a hospital, but no monitoring system is in place to make sure that these children are referred to the hospital for treatment.
Medical practitioners, too, would have to lodge a police report.
Some doctors admitted that there had been cases where the children who were brought to them had been in and out of clinics and hospitals.
Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH) Paediatric Institute’s Neonatal Unit head Dr Irene Cheah said the perpetrators would normally try to hide their wrongdoings by claiming that the injuries were accidental.
“Usually, they bring in the child after he cannot walk or is in severe pain.
“They would give a reason like accidental injury. Sometime, they just want the doctor to give the assurance that their child is well and they can go home,” she said.
Dr Cheah said the onus was on medical practitioners to lodge a report with the police or the Welfare Department if the child was suspected of being abused.
The child would be tracked down and his condition would be checked.
KLH’s Emergency Medical and Trauma Department specialist Dr Alzamani Mohammad Idrose said medical practitioners were obliged to lodge a report on suspected abuse cases.
He said general hospitals would have a One-Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC) at its Emergency and Trauma department to filter suspected cases of child abuse and refer them to the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (Scan) team.
“All suspected child abuse victims will be treated in a special room. Normally, we will treat their physical injuries, but if there isn’t any, the child will be admitted to the paediatric ward where he will be under the monitoring of the Scan team.”
Dr Alzamani said some families refused to lodge police reports as the perpetrator could be the family’s breadwinner.
“There were cases where parents refused to allow a post-mortem to determine the cause of death.
So, normally we will lodge a police report allowing for an investigation to be carried out. Sometimes, the mother would refuse to lodge a police report because the perpetrator was her husband who was the family’s breadwinner.
They also fear the social stigma.”
The Bukit Aman Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division told the New Straits Times that they had yet to receive reports on parties who had failed to report any known abuse cases.
“D11 has received cooperation from all parties in giving information related to child abuse cases.”