If a child genuinely falls and gets a sprung arm or a lump on the head and is taken to the emergency room, is it routine now for the docs to call cps, even if the family has no history of child abuse, and the story the parents told about the accident checks out?
2007-03-24 17:40:29 · 12 answers · asked by Nyema 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
To an above poster who said, "If you did nothing wrong, you've got no reason to worry."
WRONG!
Child protective services are notorious at using underhanded techniques to take a child out of its home. They are like state-approved kidnappers, and they almost always get their way.
Not to mention, the child will probably suffer more abuse at the hands of CPS workers than they ever got at home (if they got any.) In my opinion, the vast majority of people working for CPS have a very special area in Hell set aside for them... one that's reserved for child molesters and people who talk in the theater.
2007-03-24 18:37:33 · answer #1 · answered by This Is Me Being Grumpy 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, if what the parent tells a doctor about an accident sounds like the truth they will not call cps, especially if the child isn't in the ER every week or more. If a child is seen in ANY Emergency room too often though then this shows a pattern and most hospitals are now linked via internet and even if a child hasn't been seen in a particluar ER they can double check other ERs in the region to see if anything suspicious crops up. But if it's a noraml "kid fell out of a tree or kid tripped on shoelaces going down stairs, or fell out of a swing and happens maybe twice a year that's not a pattern and doesn't point to abuse.
2007-03-25 06:25:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe that the doctors will ask a bunch of questions about the accident. If the story has holes in it, or keeps changing then they would suspect something is up, and child servises would be called. I think that doctors have special training on this, and sometimes they call when there is no need, but I do think that it would be better that they called and were wrong than to not call when they should have. If they called about your situation, and there was no need, at least you know if your child is ever abused by someone that they would be protected.
2007-03-25 01:58:01 · answer #3 · answered by krickee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not routine. It is mandatory that they report all suspected cases of abuse. The problem is that it is often subjective. What one doctor may believe is a real accident, another doctor may not. It sucks when an innocent person is accused of abuse...not only are they put through the ringer, but all those resources are wasted. How many other children are getting beaten or being starved when they look into these bogus accusations. That being said...I guess they have to take the "better safe, than sorry" approach, when it comes to children's lives.
come to think of it....my daughter(9 y/o) has been to the er once for a high fever when she was 2ish. My 6 y/o daughter has never been....wow I have been super lucky!!! Thank God!
2007-03-25 00:53:19 · answer #4 · answered by Linnygirl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is routinely called in to CPS. My cousin's wife just had that happen. She was stepping over a baby gate at the top of a short set of steps and managed to fall. The baby ended up with a fractured skull and a broken shoulder bone. My cousin's wife had injuries to her leg, arm, and shoulder trying to keep from landing on the baby. CPS was called in to investigate the incident and upon review, they were cleared. I believe doctors may call CPS a bit too often but personally I'd rather see them error on the side of caution.
Oh, no issues of child abuse/neglect at all with my cousin and his wife. This was just an unfortunate trip. In the end, the incident actually might improve the baby's life as further scans revealed a spinal defect that might have gone undetected until a little later in life.
2007-03-25 00:47:08 · answer #5 · answered by Jim Maryland 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Unless the injury is suspicious, or you bring up possible abuse, then it isn't routine to call CPS. I've worked in the ER for 4 years. I've called them a 100 times, but never if there wasn't reason.
2007-03-25 03:49:02 · answer #6 · answered by Morning Glory 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have a friend who took her son to the er for an ear infection... they found a bruise the size of an eraser head (you know like a little teeeny circle) on his face (the kid was just learning to really walk!!!) and called child protective servies on her .. i think its one thing if a child comes in and has been clearly abused and another the extremes they are taking it to now i know i broke my foot 2 years ago tripping over a laundry basket they questioned me for over an hour if my husband was abusing me... no i tripped you idiots anyone can do it!
2007-03-25 00:44:33 · answer #7 · answered by Vickie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My 3 boys have been in the ER for fractures, stiches, concussions, etc. No, child services has never been called; However, everytime we are asked several times by several different people what happened. Usually I let my child tell what happened, since I have never actually witnessed any of their accidents.
2007-03-25 00:47:19 · answer #8 · answered by ohbrother 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Doctor will notice other signs of injury or perhaps will determine that this injury seems suspicious. They are trained for that.
2007-03-25 00:43:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it is not the doctor's job to figure out if there is abuse in a home or otherwise. it is a crime for a doctor not to report a suspicious injury. if you did nothing wrong, you have no reason to worry.
2007-03-25 00:43:13 · answer #10 · answered by KitKat 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋