Doctors Trained to Spot Child Torture

A national conference hosted in the Twin Cities aims to equip doctors with skills that medical schools do not offer.

The National Child Protection Training Center, NCPTC, held a national conference at the Mall of America this week. Victor Vieth, NCPTC's Executive Director, says the conference is designed  for child abuse investigators, prosecutors, and medical professionals.

Vieth says medical professionals are on the front lines when it comes to child abuse. However, Vieth claims medical schools do not always adequately prepare doctors to identify child abuse and torture.

NCPTC aims to change that.

A curriculum has been developed specifically for medical professionals. NCPTC hopes every medical school in the country will eventually adopt the curriculum which not only teaches doctors to spot abuse and torture, but also teaches them how best to interview child abuse victims.

Britten Follett, author of the book Who Killed Kelsey?, says doctors initially failed to identify and protect 2-year-old Kelsey Briggs.

Kelsey was ultimately murdered.

Follett says training  courses like the one developed at NCPTC could go along way in making sure doctors do not miss another opportunity to save a child's life. 

Tweet