Guidance on reporting under age sex is confusing

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7523.984-a

BMJ 2005;331:984 (29 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7523.984-a

News roundup

Guidance on reporting under age sex is confusing

London Rebecca Coombes

The BMA is reporting a surge in telephone calls from doctors who are confused about new guidance that compels health professionals to report evidence of under age sexual activity to social workers and the police. Doctors are concerned that new guidance, already in use in some areas, does away with a child�s right to confidential sexual health advice and could lead to an increase in under age pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

A number of area child protection committees have issued protocols, including the London Child Protection Committee, which covers all London boroughs, and Sheffield City Council. In parallel, the government is examining proposals to change the current national child protection guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children, and compel health professionals to report all sexual activity in under 16 year olds to social workers and police, regardless of the circumstances (BMJ 2005;331:918, 22 Oct).

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Relevant Article

Mandatory reporting to the police of all sexually active under-13s: Ruth Bastable and Julian Sheather
BMJ 2005 331: 918-919. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]