A 6-month-old baby is brought to the emergency room with a head laceration. There are bruises all around his mouth and on his arms, legs, and chest. The parents are both very young. The mother does not make eye contact and the father appears very scared. The father tells the social worker that the baby rolled off the couch and hit its head on the coffee table. The attending physician tells the social worker that he has found multiple old injuries as well. As the social worker talks with the grandparents, she learns that both the mother and father were in child protective services as children. The social worker calls the child welfare department to report her suspicion of _______________________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of multiple injuries of different ages, bruises in various stages of healing, and the parents' behavior suggest physical abuse. The history provided by the father does not adequately explain the extent and variety of injuries observed, leading to suspicion of physical abuse.

A 6-Month-Old Baby Is Brought to the Emergency Room with a Head