units

FOR5012

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

18 September 2017 27 April 2024

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This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

Monash University

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Organisational Unit

Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine

Coordinator(s)

Dr Jennifer 'Anne' Smith

Quota applies

This unit is quota restricted. Selection is on a first-in, first enrolled basis. For further information please contact the Postgraduate Course Administrator via email postgrad.courses@vifm.org or phone 03 9684 4115.

Offered

Not offered in 2016

Synopsis

Paediatric forensic medicine encompasses the medico-legal issues arising from the provision of a medical service to children.
The unit will largely focus on the medical assessment of cases of suspected child sexual abuse.
The aim of this unit is to develop student's skills in the evaluation and management of children and adolescents suspected of being sexually abused.
Integral to both evaluation and management will be a knowledge of the relevant legislation, policing and protective agencies, injury patterns, specialised investigative techniques and treatment.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate the role of health practitioners in assessing cases of suspected child sexual abuse;
  2. Identify and explain sexual development and behaviour in children at different developmental stages;
  3. Analyse the ethical and legal issues relevant to cases of suspected child sexual abuse;
  4. Assess and compare normal genital anatomy and physiology, and interpret abnormal genital findings and pathological conditions;
  5. Apply medical and forensic principles to the evaluation, treatment and prevention of cases of suspected child sexual abuse;
  6. Distinguish how protective workers, lawyers and police contribute to the investigation of child sexual abuse;
  7. Recognise and assess the medical and legal implications of a sexually transmitted infection in a child.

Assessment

Workbook part 1 (15%)
Workbook part 2 (20%)
Analysis of a medical report (3000 words) (15%)
Case Presentation (20%)
Essay (2,500 - 3,000 words) (30%)

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Jennifer 'Anne' Smith

Off-campus attendance requirements

Compulsory 2 day workshop.

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Forensic medicine

Prerequisites

A registered medical practitioner who is involved in assessing (or may be required to assess) children/adolescents when child/adolescent sexual abuse is suspected.

Prohibitions

FOR2006

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

postgrad.courses@vifm.org