The National Council of the Order of Physicians is "
not in favor
" of an "
obligation to report
" for doctors who suspect sexual violence in a child, recommended by the Incest Commission, said its vice-president on Thursday March 31. Marie-Pierre Glaviano-Ceccaldi.
Read alsoWhat the first 6,200 testimonies received by the incest commission reveal
“
There is no obligation to report, but we are bound by an obligation to protect.
When a doctor is sure that there is sexual violence, he must report it to the public prosecutor.
When he has suspicions, he can report worrying information to the unit for collecting worrying information relating to minors in danger
”, a departmental child protection system, she told AFP.
“
At the same time, he must explain to the parents that the child needs to see specialists for additional care.
If he has doubts, he must seek collegiality
,” she adds.
“
On the other hand, he cannot help the child's mother (if the father is involved, editor's note) or report these suspicions to the children's judge.
It's the law
,” she said.
Doctors have been prosecuted before the Council of the Order by parents suspected of ill-treatment for “
interference
” in family life or for having gone directly to the juvenile judge, responsible for the protection of the child in question.
160,000 child victims
In its report on Thursday, the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence Against Children (Ciivise) recommends "
clarifying the obligation to report
" by doctors of child victims of sexual violence "
even at the stage of suspicion
".
It recommends “
suspending disciplinary proceedings against protective doctors
”.
“
It is important that the rules are clear to protect the children and the doctors themselves
”, explained the co-president of the Ciivise Edouard Durand Thursday on France Info.
Read alsoSexual violence against minors: Calliope, a method to help free the voices of child victims
“
Some aggressor parents file a complaint against the reporting doctor.
It is the aggressor who turns against the protector, what is called the risk of retaliation
,” confirmed Dr. Glaviano-Ceccaldi.
"
The departmental council of the order of doctors does not have the power to stop a complaint
".
“
It is a subject that deserves to be evaluated
” to see if it has an inhibiting effect on doctors, she notes.
Each year, 160,000 children are victims of sexual violence, often incestuous, which has serious lifelong repercussions on their health and mental state.
Only 5% of reports of child abuse come from the medical sector, according to the High Authority for Health.
SEE ALSO -
"Has anyone ever hurt you?": the incest commission wants a "more proactive" posture to protect children from sexual violence
