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Volume2 Issue4
CDA
at
W
ork
Therewas ageneral consensus amongparticipants that universal screening failswhenhealth
practitioners arenot appropriately trainedand supported. Dr.Wood suggested itwould
behelpful for dentists andothermandated reporters tohaveadescriptive list of signs and
symptoms to look for, aswell as anevidence-basedactionplan to followwhen suspecting
childabuse. “I used theanalogyof ahospital crashcart—thepre-dispensed, pre-packedand
strategically located suppliesused incasesof cardiacarrest. If a similar deliverymodelwas
used incasesof childabuse—amodelwhere there isminimal required thinkingand that
dictates aclearlydefinedcarepath—detectionand reporting ratesmight increase.”
MinisterAmbrosewas receptive to this concept of acrash-cart planandacknowledged that
there is aneed to streamline thedisclosureand investigationprocesses. “Familyviolence is
apublichealth issue. It has serious and long-lastingconsequences for individuals, families
and society. Addressing thehealth impactsof familyviolence requires actionat all levels, and
healthprofessionalsplayacritical role,” sheadded.
Aclear andeasy-to-followdisclosureprocessmight also lead tomorehealthprofessionals
sounding thealarmoncasesof abuse. AsDr.Woodexplained, “There is significant literature
showing that somepractitionerswill not report abuse inaprivatepractice settings even if
they know it tobepresent.”
Federal investment
Following this roundtableevent andother consultations,MinisterAmbroseannounceda
10-year, $100M investment toaddress thedomesticviolence issue. “I havebeenactive in
theareaof ending familyviolenceand specificallyendingviolenceagainstwomen formost
ofmy life,” she said inaFebruary20, 2015press release. “It ismyhope that through this
investmentwewill beable tobetter support victimsof violenceand their children,wherever
they live, so that theymayheal and rebuild their lives towardahealthier future.”
Dr.RobertWood
InDecember 2014,Minister ofHealthRonaAmbrose and theCanadianCentre forChildProtection co-hosted
a roundtable discussion on family violence and child abuse. The event offered the opportunity to discuss the role
health professionals can play indetecting and addressing abuse, and the support they need to successfully do so.
Dr. RobertWood, chief of forensic dentistry for theOffice of theChief Coroner in the province ofOntario and
head of the dental oncology, ocular&maxillofacial prosthetics clinic at thePrincessMargaretCancerCentre,
attended the event onbehalf ofCDA.
Family violence and child abuse:
DENTISTS' ROLE IN
DETECTION
Canada’s dentists recognize that family violence is a significant public health
issue, andapplaud this investment tohelpaddress the problem.
–Dr. GaryMacDonald
