Court Testimony, Child Welfare and Justice Systems, and the Emergency Physician

Emergency physicians, because of their frequent role in evaluating child victims of abuse and neglect, are likely to come into contact with child protective services (CPS) and law enforcement and may be called to testify in court. It is important that pediatric emergency medicine physicians have an understanding of CPS and criminal justice systems as they pertain to child abuse and neglect, as well as skills in effectively providing court testimony. This article, using case illustrations, will discuss the CPS and criminal justice systems, as well as provide strategies to facilitate comfort and effectiveness as a court witness.