Child Abuse, a Post-mortem Forensic Perspective

Child abuse is defined by the WHO as all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power (World Health Organisation 2016). It is a world-wide problem that affects all societal levels and in its most severe form can result in the death of a child. This chapter will discuss and explain child abuse from a forensic point of view in post-mortem imaging.