Comment by cool_dude85
2 years ago
I'm not sure if it's federal, but in my state a doctor is required to report anything they feel is unusual. Mandated reporter, it's called.
2 years ago
I'm not sure if it's federal, but in my state a doctor is required to report anything they feel is unusual. Mandated reporter, it's called.
There's a federal act (CAPTA) that requires states to adopt mandatory reporting rules, but the rules vary from state-to-state. Some states, simply by being in a particular profession you are required to report (even when not on the job); in other states it's specifically when evidence is uncovered while performing your duties; in some states, all people are required to report.
I've never encountered a state in which a medical doctor encountering evidence of abuse while seeing a patient is not required to report it, with the exception of some states exempting mental-health professionals told things in confidence (so a psychiatrist, which is also an MD, might not be required to report it depending on the state).