Children Abuse

Question 1

What is child abuses

Answer 1

Abuse” in relation to a child, means any form of harm or ill-treatment deliberately inflicted on a child, and includes -

(a) assaulting a child or inflicting any other form of deliberate injury to a child ;
(b) sexually abusing a child or allowing a child to be sexually abused;
(c) bullying by another child;
(d) a labour practice that exploits a child; or
(e) exposing or subjecting a child to behaviour that may harm the child psychologically or

Question 2

Consent to medical treatment and surgical operation

Answer 2

Consent to medical treatment and surgical operation

129. (1) Subject to section 5(2) of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996 (Act No. 92 of 1996), a child may be subjected to medical treatment or a surgical operation only if consent for such treatment or operation has been given in terms of either subsection (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) or (7).

(2) A child may consent to his or her own medical treatment or to the medical treatment of his or her child if -
(a) the child is over the age of 12 years; and
(b) the child is of sufficient maturity and has the mental capacity to understand the benefits, risks, social and other implications of the treatment

3) A child may consent to the performance of a surgical operation on him or her or his or her child if-
(a) the child is over the age of 12 years; and
(b) the child is of sufficient maturity and has the mental capacity to understand the benefits, risks, social and other implications of the surgical operation; and
(c) the child is duly assisted by his or her parent or guardian.

(4) The parent, guardian or care-giver of a child may, subject to section 3 1, consent to the medical treatment of the child if the child is-
(a) under the age of 12 years; or
(b) over that age but is of insufficient maturity or is unable to understand the benefits, risks and social implications of the treatment.

Question 3

The superintendent of a hospital or the person in charge of the hospital in the absence of the superintendent may consent to the medical treatment of or a surgical operation on a child if

Answer 3

the treatment or operation is necessary to preserve the life of the child or to save the child from serious or lasting physical injury or disability; and
•(b) the need for the treatment or operation is so urgent that it cannot be deferred for the purpose of obtaining consent that would otherwise have been required
•DEFENCE OF NECESSITY

Question 4

Access to contraception -condoms

Answer 4

No person may refuse –

(a) To sell condoms to a child over the age of 12 years; or
(b) to provide a child over the age of 12 years with condoms on request where such condoms are provided or distributed free of charge.

Question 5

Contraceptive OTHER than condoms

Answer 5

May be provide to the child on request by the child without consent of the parent or care giver of the child if –

(a) the child is at least 12 years old;
(b) Proper medical advice is given to the child; and
(c) A medical examination is carried out on the child to determine whether there are any medical reasons why a specific contraceptive should not be provided to the child.

(3) A child who obtains condoms, contraceptives or contraceptive advice in terms of this Act is entitled to confidentiality in this respect.

Question 6

Which age is age of majority

Answer 6

18 years old

Question 7

Child abuse non-accidental injuries

Answer 7

No single injury is diagnostic of abuse.
•Together with a high index of suspicion, a collaborative history , clinical and radiological examination allows the diagnosis to be considered.
•The history is often contradictory.

Question 8

Diversity of injuries

Answer 8

Injuries range from minor to severe.
•Skin lesions, particularly bruises, abrasions
•And burns, may reflect the way in which the injury is inflicted.
•Wounds of differing ages is suspicious

Question 9

Brain injuries

Answer 9

Blunt head injuries is the commonest cause of death.

• Infants may present with unexplained neurological dysfunction, feeding difficulties, decreased levels of consciousness and seizures.
• Retinal haemorrhage,when other causes have been eliminated, strongly supports the shaken-infant syndrome.

Skull fractures from assault are widespread and may be intentional. It is often depressed

•In contrast accidental skull fractures are often linear and occur particularly at parietal bones.