Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Endgames Case Review

A teenage girl with lower abdominal pain

BMJ 2017; 359 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j5122 (Published 23 November 2017) Cite this as: BMJ 2017;359:j5122

Rapid Response:

Re: A teenage girl with lower abdominal pain

This case describes a 14 year old girl who discloses that she is sexually active. The only comment in the subsequent discussion that touches on safeguarding is “ The possibility of sexual abuse should also be considered.” This implies that there are occasions where this is not sexual abuse.
This girl is 14. She is being sexually abused whether she realises it or not, and any clinician who does not take appropriate safeguarding action is failing in his or her duty to her.

Competing interests: No competing interests

28 November 2017
Sarah Wookey
GP
Oxfordshire CCG
Oxford