Physical child abuse is not ever an issue to be taken lightly. It’s a malicious crime that children have to unwillingly suffer through. Some of the most common injuries in physical abuse are “bruises, bites, burns, fractures, abdominal trauma, and head trauma” (McDonald 224). Imagine a child with a fractured arm due to raging parent. This child now has to suffer the pain not only from the physical trauma, but from the fact that their parent inflicted this upon them. This child has been broken by someone who is supposed to love and care for them. This image is not only disturbing and heart wrenching but cruel and infuriating.
According to the 2011 Children's Advocacy Center, 25,414 children reported physical abuse throughout the country (qtd. in National Statistics on Child Abuse). This statistic is disturbingly high for those few months. Thousands of children are being abused and mistreated every month. Somewhere now there is a child looking at his or her parent or loved one with pure terror hoping to make it through this week unscathed. Physical child abuse, defined by MedicineNet.com, is to physically injure a child with “cruel and/or malicious intent”. Any act that leaves a child bruised or bleeding is beyond horrifying. To see a child limp to class because daddy was not in a good mood the other night is sickening.
However physical abuse is not the only type of cruelty a child can suffer. But also neglect. Neglect is the most commonly reported form of child abuse and is identified by the office of Child Abuse and Neglect as the “failure to provide for a child’s basic physical, emotional, educational/cognitive, or medical needs” (McDonald 221-222). Neglecting a child can be just as cruel as physically beating one. A child witnessing inter parental violence is considered a form of negectas well (McDonald 222). A neglected child is left felling like nothing and in turn can put themselves in serious danger. Whether it is medical neglect or emotional all the forms of neglect are a cruel undeserved punishment towards a child.
In McDonald’s journal “Child Abuse: Approach and Management” she discusses and evaluates the many forms of child abuse and the different approaches a physician can take to manage a situation of child abuse. McDonald takes the time to define child abuse in legal terms:
The Child Abuse Prevention and treatment Act (CAPTA) defines abuse as a recent act or failure to act that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, exploitation, or imminent risk of serious harm; involves a child; and is carried out by a parent or caregiver who is responsible for the child’s welfare (qtd. in McDonald 221).
McDonald also lists the four main subtypes of child abuse including neglect, emotional, physical, and sexual. She defines and assesses all the subtypes of child abuse and gives clinical evaluation towards the physical and sexual abuse. McDonald describes in detail what to look for in a child being abused. She helps to understand how confront such an uneasy situation. The medical evidence provided shows all the warning signs of a child abused and evaluates the harsh effects of a child will go though due to the abuse. The best way to help a suffering abuse is to contact Child Protective services (McDonald)
Getting rid of child’s the abuser from their life does not automatically rid them of their fear. The unexplainable horror crawls into their heart destroys every moment of pure happiness and innocent bliss. Some psychological effects are depression because of abuse. Also the lack of self esteem can lead them into some self destructive habits, such as (“Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect” 209). A child will always see themselves as the problem because their father, a man who was to supposed to nurture them, left them broken. Some will never be able to open themselves up completely for the fear of being hurt again. The emotional toll it can take on them is unimaginable. Children will never see themselves the same way, or be able to trust anyone else, at least not fully.
The fear from abuse is very powerful. It can rip apart a child’s very being. There is uncontrollable anxiety that manifests, due to this fear, and leaves the victim in a million broken pieces. The constant worry of being damaged as they once were causes them to lose the ability to be at ease. One stresses out over simple things thinking that if perfection is not obtained the outcome will be a punch to the face or a bruise on the wrist. One effect can be panic attacks due to anxiety like this. Though the worry leaves them shattered, it’s essential that no other victim should go through this.
Abuse is very hard subject to swallow. The idea of any child suffering is hard to endure. There are many aspects of abuse and many harsh effects of it too. Every child abuse case should be treated with great care and respect towards the situation. People need to be more aware that even after the abuse is over the child still suffers from the fear. Sometimes personal counseling is not enough; friends and family should be more involved in the victim’s path to recovery. Taking the time to simply question and support a child can easily save a life. This issue needs to spread beyond the fact that getting the abuser out of the house may stop the violence, but that the emotional scars never stop hurting.