A review of the designated health care institution for child abuse in Korea and the compatible systems in other countries

Abstract

This article reviews the designated health care institution for child abuse in Korea and the compatible systems in other countries. The Korean system is ready to be commenced by a relevant law, which came into effect in July 2019. To find lessons for the designated hospital or professional system, we examined the designated institutions for rape victims, tuberculosis patients, and aftercare for emergency department-based suicide attempters. We also looked at safeguarding system of the United Kingdom, which comprises designated and named professionals, and the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions guidelines and specialist system in the United States. The systems in the United States and the United Kingdom may offer insight to improving the planned designated health care institution for child abuse in Korea. This includes policy issues such as qualification control of professionals, role differentiation in accordance with the hospital classification, and assigning the title of the professional and health care institutions.

Keywords

• child abuse
• designated health care institution
• professional role
• rape
• suicide, attempted
• tuberculosis