VFPMS Guidelines: Forensic investigation of suspected child abuse

These clinical practice guidelines provide advice to assist decision-making in clinical situations when child abuse and neglect are considered. They do not serve to replace health services' procedural guidelines or restrict discretion and good judgement in complex situations.

Medical practitioners are encouraged to seek advice from the Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service (VFPMS), senior medical staff and to always operate within jurisdictional legislative requirements.

Summary of recommended investigations

Physical abuse:

• General considerations
• Bruising
• Fractures
  
• Burns (including scald burns)
• Visceral injury (including abdominal injury)
• Ear, nose and throat (ENT) and oral injury
• Head injury

Sexual abuse:

• General considerations including genital examination - RACP clinical practice guideline
  
• Recommended maximum time for forensic sample collection - 2019
  
• Post sexual assault sexually transmissible infection screen
• Exposure to HIV

Neglect:

• General considerations
• N.E.G.L.E.C.T.I.N.G. framework
  

Emotional abuse:

• General considerations
  

Other VFPMS guidelines:

• Viewing sensitive material
• Video and photographic documentation
  
• Psychosocial assessment
• Writing a forensic report 2023
• Toxicological testing
• Second opinions and expert testimony guidelines and template
• Advice for producing forensic medical reports for paediatric patients seen outside RCH and MCH

Links to other websites, guidelines and policies:

• Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH)
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
• Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC)
• Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM)
• Faculty of Clinical Forensic Medicine (FCFM RCPA)
• Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (FFLM)
  
• Medical Sexual Assault Clinicians Aotearoa  (MEDSAC)
  
  
• RCH Vulnerable Children and Child Safety Policy
• MCH School Child Safe Policy