In the course of my work as a paediatrician, I have had to respond to and investigate a number of cases where a child has tragically died as a result of abuse or neglect. The circumstances of these children’s deaths vary. It is, fortunately, rare for a parent to deliberately kill or harm their child. Nevertheless, children do die through impulsive acts, neglect of their needs, through accidents, injuries and illnesses where abuse or neglect may have contributed to the child’s death, even when it wasn’t the primary cause of death.
Through my research in this area, I have tried to understand the circumstances and patterns of child deaths from maltreatment. From 2005-2017, I had the privilege of working with Professor Marian Brandon and her team from University of East Anglia on the national analyses of serious case reviews. Our learning from this research, together with more recent work by UEA and the University of Birmingham, is available on the research in practice website. My publications on serious and fatal child maltreatment can be found under the publications tab at the top of this page.
When a child dies or is seriously harmed as a result of abuse or neglect, local agencies work together to see what lessons can be learned and how services can be improved. In England, this is through a process known as Local Safeguarding Practice Reviews (formerly Serious Case Reviews) and is coordinated through the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel at the Department of Education. I was an inaugural member of this panel. Working with some excellent colleagues, I have helped to develop systems for reviewing serious and fatal cases in England, Jordan and Poland.
The death or serious harm of any child through abuse or neglect is an horrific tragedy. It causes terror and fear in the child and robs the child of their childhood. It affects not just the child and their immediate family, but also the entire community and those professionals involved. We undertake these reviews out of respect for the rights of the child – the right to life, and to freedom from torture, abuse and all forms of exploitation.
All children have the right to grow up in an environment that is nurturing, safe and free from harm.