Family Abuse and

Neglect
MEDICALLY COMPROMISED PATIENT
BY: ASHLEE HANDELAND, MEAGAN PAYNE, KATIE THIGPEN

Abuse and Neglect

Family abuse and neglect: any act (or failure to act) that causes a
person serious physical or emotional harm or that places them in
imminent danger of such harm. It is a worldwide phenomenon that
encompasses the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
There are many forms of abuse:

Physical

Emotional

Sexual

Neglect

Forms of Abuse

Physical Abuse: non accidental injuries on family members by

parents, caregivers, spouses, or siblings.

Emotional: mental anguish and despair caused by ridicule,

intimidation, humiliation, name calling, harassment, threats, and
controlling behavior; isolation.

Sexual: Non consensual or exploitive sexual contact, including

sexual intercourse, oral sex, fondling, or pornographic activities on
one family member by another.

Neglect: willful or unwillful failure of the caregiver or parents to

provide the basic necessities to individuals in their care;
abandonment; medical, dental, and deprivation neglect.

Occurrence
Most

at-risk for maltreatment are children, elderly, people with

disabilities, and women.
It involves children ranging from infants through teenagers.
Special needs children are more likely to be abused and
neglected.
Several thousands of children a year die as a result of family
abuse and neglect.
50-65 % of child physical abuse involved injuries to the head
neck and mouth.
Family abuse and neglect is most commonly found in urban
poverty areas.

Extra-Oral signs of abuse and

neglect

Lip trauma

Bruising of facial tissues

Eye injuries

Fractured or bruised mandible

TMJ joint pain

Intra oral signs of abuse and neglect

Fracture, displaced, or evulsed teeth.

Bruising of the edentulous ridge.

STDs lesions

Fractured denture.

Lesions or sores in the mouth

Poor oral hygiene

Rampant dental caries

Untreated periodontal disease

DH approach

Provide support; encourage open communication; be a

source of reassurance.

Discuss clinical findings in a non judgmental manner.

Respect and maintain confidentiality.

Provide counseling references.

Obtain thorough and accurate documentation.

To provide authorities meticulous information to support

the investigation.

Professional Obligations

A professional is defined in the Texas Family Code as an

individual who is licensed or certified by the state or who is
an employee of a facility licensed, certified or operated by
the state and who, in the normal course of official duties, has
direct contact with children

The term includes teachers, nurses, doctors, day-care

employees, employees of a clinic or health care facility,
juvenile probation officers and juvenile detention and
correction officers.

All fifty states have mandatory reporting requirements for

health care professionals.

Texas Laws: Reporting

Responsibilities

If a professional has cause to believe that a child has been abused

of neglected or may be abused or neglected or that a child is a
victim of an offense under section 21, 11 Penal Code, a report must
be filed

The professional must make a report not later than the 48th hour
after he/she first suspects that the child has been or may be
abused

A professional may not delegate to or rely on another person to

make the report

The requirements to report under this section applies without

exception to an individual whose personal communications may
otherwise be privileged, including attorneys, clergy members, social
workers, medical/dental practitioners and their employees

Immunity & Confidentiality

A person acting in good faith who reports or assists in the

investigation of child abuse/ neglect is immune from civil
or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred or
imposed.

Reported information is confidential and nor subject to

public release unless:

The information is essential to the administration of

justice.

Not likely to endanger the life or safety of the child, person

making the report or persons assisting the investigation.

Failure to Report

A person commits an offense if the person has cause

to believe that a childs physical or mental health or
welfare has been or may be adversely affected by
abuse or neglect and knowingly fails to report it to
the appropriate agency.

This offense is classified as a class B misdemeanor.

Reportable Required Information

Name and address of the child and parents or

guardian

Childs age

Names of siblings if there are any

Nature of child's condition

Any information that may be helpful in establishing

the cause.

Child Protective Services

Child

Protective Services number: 1-800-252-

5400
Prevent

Abuse and Neglect through Dental

Awareness (P.A.N.D.A)

QUESTION #1:
Family abuse and neglect is any act (or failure to act) that
causes a person serious physical or emotional harm or that
places them in imminent danger of such harm. It is a worldwide
phenomenon that encompasses the physical, emotional, and
sexual abuse.
A.) The first statement is true, the second statement is false.
B.) The first statement is false, the second statement is true.
C.) Both statements are true
D. Both statements are false

answer:
Family abuse and neglect: any act (or failure to act) that
causes a person serious physical or emotional harm or
that places them in imminent danger of such harm. It is
a worldwide phenomenon that encompasses the
physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.

C.) Both statements are TRUE.

Question #2:
What percentage of child physical abuse involves
injuries to the head, neck, and mouth?
A.) 1-2%
B.)25-30%
C.)50-65%
D.)75-80%

Answer:
What percentage of child physical abuse involves
injuries to the head, neck, and mouth?

C.)50-65%

Question #3:
Signs of extra-oral abuse and neglect include which of
the following?
A.) Lip trauma
B.)Bruising of facial tissues
C.)Fractured or bruised mandible
D.) All of the above

Answer:
Signs of extra-oral abuse and neglect include which of
the following?

D.) All of the above

References:
Wilkins,

Esther M. Clinical practice of Dental Hygienist. Philadelphia: Lippincott

Williams & Wilkins, 2013. Print
Collins K, Strieder F, Greenberg P, et al. Trauma Adapted Family Connections:
Reducing Developmental and Complex Trauma Symptomatology to Prevent Child
Abuse and Neglect. Child Welfare [serial online]. November 2011;90(6):29-47 19p.
Available from: CINAHL Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 25, 2015.
Kobayashi K, Fukushima M, Kitaoka H, Shimizu Y, Shimanouchi S. The Influence of
Public Health Nurses in Facilitating a Healthy Family Life for Families with Abused
and Neglected Children by Providing Care. International Medical Journal [serial
online]. February 2015;22(1):6-11 6p. Available from: CINAHL Complete, Ipswich,
MA. Accessed November 25, 2015.
Child Abuse and Neglect. Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia [serial online].
2015;:1p. 1. Available from: Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, Ipswich,
MA. Accessed November 25, 2015.