Child Sexual Abuse:The Law and Moral Obligation

Abstract

CASE STUDY: Dr. C., a female family physician has a busy practice in a small town in South Africa. Mrs. M. phoned for an urgent appointment to bring in her six-year-old daughter, Sally, to the practice and the doctor agreed to see the child despite the short notice.The complaints made gave Dr. C the clinical impression of a urinary tract infection. But on physical examination, Sally looked "sad" and the doctor found a multiply torn hymen suggestive of repeated penetration, vulval warts and an offensive vaginal discharge.The mother denies prior knowledge of the doctor's findings. In the doctor's mind, it was clear that Sally had been sexually abused, in all probability over a long time, but wondered why the mother claimed ignorance of this. Of the ethical issues arising from this case study, we will focus on the following question: "Can the law and the moral obligations of a family practitioner be balanced in cases of child sexual abusel" What follows is a discussion between two doctors (A & B), on the above question.