Position Statements : Top Ten Reasons

Why Children and Adolescents Suspected of Being Sexually Abused Need Medical Evaluations.

To reassure the child and family that the child is healthy
To assess the medical needs of the child and to treat injuries, infections, and/or provide prophylaxis
To assess safety and intervene to prevent further abuse
To assess and address emotional, social, mental health, and developmental needs of the child and family and provide crises intervention
To capture spontaneous disclosures
To decrease the likelihood of child’s recantation by enhancing parental support and awareness
To refer for medical, mental health, or social issues
To potentially increase the likelihood of perpetrator confession
To document evaluation findings
To collect forensic evidence