Forensic Medical Assessment
Assessing a Child's Health and Safety
Amani Center has a Designated Medical
Provider (DMP) on staff 5 days a week that can see children suspected to be
victims of child abuse or neglect. This ensures children will be seen by a
medical provider who is trained to perform child abuse medical assessments as
defined by Oregon law (ORS 418.782). Assessments at our Center are a well-child
check, which is a head-to-toe assessment, that includes height, weight, vision
screening, hearing screening, and collection of vital signs (heart rate, blood
pressure, and oxygen levels). Anogenital
assessments are performed when necessary, but there is nothing painful done
during any exam. These assessments are done with the medical provider and
forensic interviewer in the room. The
child has complete control over the voluntary medical assessment and how it is
conducted.
The medical assessment allows for the
medical provider to document any findings of abuse or neglect that are visible
during a medical exam. Often times children who experience abuse or neglect may
show no medical findings of these concerns. With the training required to identify
and diagnose signs of abuse, medical providers use their findings to make
recommendations to law enforcement, child protective workers, and family
members.
After the medical assessment the medical
provider determines if there is cause to administer labs for drug screening for children endangered by
exposure to drug use, distribution, or manufacturing. The medical provider may
also order labs for sexually transmitted infections
(STI) if applicable.
Medical assessments not only help to ensure
the child’s health, safety, and well-being, but also help investigators in law
enforcement and DHS to collect, document, and preserve important and often
quickly disappearing evidence. After the medical assessment, the child has the
opportunity to talk one on one with the medical provider about any concerns
they may have.