Legal Definitions - battered child

The term battered child refers to a minor who has sustained significant physical injuries, often repeatedly, due to abuse or neglect inflicted by a parent, guardian, or other caregiver. These injuries are typically non-accidental and can include a range of harms such as bruises, fractures, burns, or internal trauma. The concept emphasizes the physical harm suffered by the child, often indicating a pattern of mistreatment.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of this term:

• Example 1: A seven-year-old child is frequently observed by school staff to have unexplained bruises on their arms and legs, sometimes accompanied by a limp or difficulty sitting. When questioned, the child provides vague or inconsistent explanations, and their parents often dismiss concerns as "clumsiness."

  Explanation: This scenario illustrates a battered child because the child exhibits recurring physical injuries that lack credible accidental explanations, suggesting a pattern of non-accidental harm inflicted by a caregiver. The child's evasiveness and the parents' dismissive responses further raise concerns about abuse.

• Example 2: An infant is brought to the emergency room with multiple bone fractures in different stages of healing, including a skull fracture and several broken ribs, none of which are consistent with the parents' account of an accidental fall from a low height.

  Explanation: This situation describes a battered child because the infant's injuries are severe, numerous, and inconsistent with the reported cause. The presence of fractures at various healing stages strongly indicates repeated physical abuse over time, rather than a single accident.

• Example 3: A teenager is found by social services with severe cigarette burns on their arms and chest, along with signs of malnutrition and untreated infections, after neighbors reported frequent loud arguments and sounds of physical struggle coming from the home.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates a battered child due to the presence of intentional and severe physical injuries (cigarette burns) combined with neglect (malnutrition, untreated infections). The neighbors' observations further support the likelihood of ongoing physical abuse within the home.