Child Abuse and Infanticide Overview

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a type of child abuse?

Emotional Abuse

Bullying (correct)

Physical Abuse

Negligence

Which feature is NOT typically associated with Child Physical Abuse (CPA)?

Delay in seeking medical assistance

Multiple hospital visits for various injuries

Consistent explanation correlating with injuries (correct)

Repeated injuries of different ages

Which characteristic most commonly causes death in cases of child abuse?

Internal injuries

Fractures in limbs

Head injuries (correct)

Burns from hot liquids

Infanticide applies exclusively to which of the following scenarios?

Deliberate killing of a viable infant Signup and view all the answers

In determining if a child was a victim of abuse, which statement holds true?

Negative external findings do not rule out child physical abuse Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the timing most commonly associated with infanticide cases?

Usually occurs within hours of birth Signup and view all the answers

What kind of injuries are indicative of physical abuse in children?

Multiple bruising with different colors and patterns Signup and view all the answers

What is the defining condition for calling an act infanticide?

Deliberate killing of a live born infant under one year Signup and view all the answers

What occurs to the weight of the lungs during respiration according to the provided principles?

The weight of respired lungs increases Signup and view all the answers

Which procedure is carried out to test the buoyancy of the lungs after respiration?

Hydrostatic test Signup and view all the answers

What indicates that a newborn lived for approximately 6 hours after birth during the stomach-bowel test?

All parts float in stomach, duodenum & upper intestines Signup and view all the answers

In the static test for lungs, what happens to the lungs' weight when they are respired?

Weight doubles Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary principle behind the hydrostatic test?

Respired lungs have lower specific gravity Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by all parts of the lungs sinking during the hydrostatic test?

Non-respiration Signup and view all the answers

What internal sign is indicative of a newborn having been born alive?

Collection of colostrum corpuscles in gastric contents Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the roles of a forensic pathologist in infanticide cases?

Estimating whether the infant was born alive or stillborn Signup and view all the answers

How is the stomach-bowel test critical in determining respiratory evidence?

It assesses the floatation of the stomach and intestines Signup and view all the answers

At what stage does the ductus arteriosus experience actual obliteration?

After 6 weeks post-delivery Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT considered when estimating the period of survival of an infant after its live-birth?

Length of time from delivery to birth Signup and view all the answers

What external sign indicates that a newborn was born alive?

Formation of umbilicus after 2 weeks Signup and view all the answers

What is a natural cause of death for a newborn that a forensic pathologist would identify?

Congenital malformations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is indicative of a stillborn infant during delivery?

Presence of rancid smell and flaccidity of the body Signup and view all the answers

What sign indicates that the foramen ovale has closed?

Closure after 1 week of birth Signup and view all the answers

Which test helps estimate the signs of respiration in a newborn?

Hydrostatic test Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conditions is categorized as an act of commission?

Infanticide through deliberate harm Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of respired lungs observed in a forensic examination?

Mottled or mosaic appearance Signup and view all the answers

What physiological change occurs in the umbilical vessels 2 weeks after birth?

Formation of fibrous cord Signup and view all the answers

Which sign is NOT helpful in estimating the age of an infant after birth?

Length of the umbilical cord Signup and view all the answers

What indicates that the umbilical cord was cut after the birth of a live infant?

Ring of hyperemia after 1 day Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of a child's stool suggests that they were born alive?

Well-formed yellow stools Signup and view all the answers

Which condition indicates a death that occurred before delivery?

Maceration characterized by specific discoloration Signup and view all the answers

What is one potential cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?

Overlaying and suffocation Signup and view all the answers

What is a sign of live birth indicated by the skin condition of a newborn?

Desquamation completed after 2 weeks Signup and view all the answers

In cases of infanticide, which factor could indicate violence as the cause of death?

Stab wounds Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic associated with SIDS?

Slight preponderance of females Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception regarding the causes of infant death in the first few months?

Infant deaths rarely occur due to viral infections Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following methods is NOT typically associated with acts of commission in infanticide?

Accidental strangulation Signup and view all the answers

What role does a forensic pathologist play in cases of infanticide?

Determine the causes of death Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding the time period when SIDS is most common?

Most fatalities occur between 2 weeks to 2 years Signup and view all the answers

Which autopsy finding is crucial for diagnosing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?

Failure to find an adequate cause of death Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of estimating the maturity and viability of a child in infanticide cases?

To assess if the infant could survive birth without medical assistance Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a method for identifying a child in an infanticide case?

Analysis of the death certificate Signup and view all the answers

What is an important non-medical evidence that can indicate a live birth?

Observed reflex actions like sneezing or crying Signup and view all the answers

At what gestation age is a neonate considered to have a strong presumption of not surviving without medical attention?

28 weeks Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following signs is indicative of a neonate being born stillborn?

Presence of desquamation of the skin Signup and view all the answers

What information is essential for the identification of the mother in an infanticide case?

All identifying details related to the crime scene Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the process of estimating whether an infant was born alive or stillborn?

It combines both non-medical and medical evidence evaluations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum gestational age at which a child is considered premature regardless of weight?

37 weeks Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Child Abuse

Child abuse encompasses physical, sexual, emotional (psychological), and negligence.

Child Physical Abuse (CPA)

Definition: Repeated willful injury of a child by inadequate parents, guardians, or caretakers.
General Features: Repeated injuries (different ages, sites, and patterns), delay in seeking medical assistance, multiple hospital visits for treatment of injuries, inconsistent explanations for the injuries.
Injuries:
- External: Multiple bruises of varying colors, burns (cigarette burns, hot water), multiple fractures (limbs, ribs, skull), retinal and vitreous hemorrhages, torn frenulum, visceral injuries.
- Internal: Bruising, burns, fractures, subdural and retinal hemorrhages, cerebral trauma, axonal damage. Note negative external findings don't exclude abuse.
Head injuries are the most frequent cause of death in child abuse (direct trauma or shaking/shaken baby syndrome).

Infanticide

Definition: Deliberate killing of a newly born, live-born, and viable infant.
Importance notes:
- Only the mother can benefit from this alternative to murder.
- The child must be less than one year old, although the majority of cases occur within hours or minutes of birth.
- The child must be viable (the end of the 7th intrauterine month).
- The death must result from a willful act of omission or commission.

Role of Forensic Pathologist in Infanticide Cases (MLI)

Assist in identifying the child and mother (unknown or suspected).
Estimate child's maturity and viability.
Determine if the child was born alive or stillborn (non-medical or medical evidence).
- Changes at umbilical cord (1 day after: ring of hyperemia, 2 days after: ulceration begins),
- Desquamation of skin
- well-formed stools
- absence of maceration.
Estimate the period of survival.
- Changes in the skin/umbilical cord/vessels
- Obliteration of the ductus arteriosus, closure of foramen ovale
Determine the cause of death.
- Natural or accidental causes (e.g., immaturity, congenital malformations), negligence, violence.
- Violence types: cut throat, stab wounds, blunt force trauma, asphyxia, poisoning.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Definition: Unexpected sudden death of an infant, with no clear cause found on autopsy or scene examination.
Etiology: Unknown, but possible factors include: Overlaying, Infections, Allergies, Respiratory/cardio issues, Hypernatremia, Neurological issues, Poisoning, Temperature Fluctuations.
Main features: Peak age range is 2 weeks to 2 years, with a peak at 2-3 months. Slight male preponderance. More common in colder/wetter months; in poor housing/low occupational status; Greater incidence in one twin.
Autopsy: SIDS is a diagnosis by exclusion, ruling out all other causes.
MLI: Exclude fatal child abuse, counseling of parents.

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Description

Explore the critical topics of child abuse and infanticide in this comprehensive quiz. Learn about the definitions, signs, and consequences of physical abuse, as well as the tragic issue of infanticide. This quiz is essential for understanding the complexities surrounding child protection.