BALTIMORE, May 31 (UPI) -- Doctors play a key role in detecting signs of child abuse and neglect, according to a U.S. study released Thursday.
They can also help make sure abuse cases are reported to the right public agency, said the study appearing in the journal The Lancet.
"Measurement of child maltreatment is inherently difficult, since it is rarely seen directly by people outside the immediate family, and is often unreported," wrote the authors from the University of Maryland and the University of Ottawa in Canada.
Physicians can help by watching for physical signs of abuse like bruises, fractures and burns, the study said. They can also play a role in preventing abuse by helping children and their parents access mental health services, ensuring that childhood disorders are diagnosed and screening for other childhood risk factors.
"Reporting of child maltreatment is not easy. But ensuring the child's safety is the priority, and reporting could be life saving," the authors wrote.
