Ethics of Reporting Child Abuse Term Paper

Total Length: 770 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1

Page 1 of 3

This places an added and unfair burden upon the shoulders of nurses, as they may be able to note the emotional and physical signs of abuse, yet they may not have all of the child's medical facts and personal history at their disposal or full authority over the case.

Although the nurse may feel that he or she should defer to the physician's judgment, discussing with the physician why he or she does not wish to report the case as abuse is an important first step in taking proactive action. The physician may be reluctant to report the abuse, not because he or she does not feel that there has been some maltreatment, but because the physician does not think the child's mother is responsible. The nurse may need to remind the physician of their ethical responsibilities as health care practitioners in reporting abuse, regardless of the source. Also, the physician may even be unaware of how to report abuse. Together, the nurse and physician can see if they can gain access to the child's medical records to gain a better sense of the child's past history, and ideally the two could speak to the child's primary pediatrician.


Next, the nurse may wish to confront the mother to better understand the child's health care status and the situation at the day care facility. This will also provide clues as to what type of action might be required to protect the child. Even attempting to determine if other children have been recently injured at the day care facility, by talking to the mother, might be possible. Regardless, because of the young age of the child, and the fact that the child is not under the eye of teachers or other authorities than the mother and the day care where the child was injured, the nurse has an additional ethical and moral, as well as legal responsibility to investigate the abuse.

Works.....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Ethics Of Reporting Child Abuse" (2007, March 20) Retrieved May 21, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/ethics-reporting-child-abuse-39228

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Ethics Of Reporting Child Abuse" 20 March 2007. Web.21 May. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/ethics-reporting-child-abuse-39228>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Ethics Of Reporting Child Abuse", 20 March 2007, Accessed.21 May. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/ethics-reporting-child-abuse-39228