All children who are suspected victims of child sexual abuse are entitled to a medical exam conducted by a specialized medical provider. CACs/MDTs can share with families and partner agencies, the importance of why a medical exam is important:
- To ensure the health and well being of the child
- To reassure the child that everything is okay with their body
- To diagnose and treat medical conditions that may be related to sexual abuse
- To document any possible physical and forensic findings
- To allow for collection of evidence that may be present on the child’s body or clothing within 72 (pre-pubescent children/120 hours adolescents
- The Medical Exam in Child Sexual Abuse Cases: What MDT Partners need to know, NRCAC video 2018
- CAC Director Resource for Orienting Medical Providers
- Medical Aspects of Child Abuse for the Multidisciplinary Team
- Medical Issues in Child Abuse Resources
- Medical Standard Assessment Tool
- NRCAC Medical Fact Sheet, 2018
- RCAC Medical Linkage agreement