Doctors, particularly pediatricians and other medical personnel who work with children, do their very best to provide excellent care to their patients. Apart from mending minds and bodies, they have a duty to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF).
However, there are instances where the medical provider is the target of a DCF investigation. If you are currently facing an investigation, contact our legal team. We have significant experience defending Wilton doctors in DCF investigations. Our attorneys at Mark Sherman Law are committed to fighting to have the allegations against you dismissed.
Typical DCF investigations involve someone reporting to the agency that they suspect abuse or neglect of a child. However, for physicians, the bar is much higher. Physicians are part of a group of responsible professionals known as mandatory reporters.
These professionals are mandated by law, under Section 17a of the Connecticut General Statutes, to report any sign of abuse or neglect in children. They also have a duty to protect children from further incidents.
If they fail to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the agency or law enforcement, they may then become the subject of a DCF investigation themselves. In fact, doctors typically have a maximum of 12 hours to file a report if they have a reasonable suspicion that a child is being abused by their parent, guardian, or anyone who has a duty to take care of the child.
This additional responsibility can be somewhat overwhelming for someone who may not have adequate time or even remember to file a complaint because they are busy trying to save lives. However, DCF does not care. If you are a physician under investigation, it is important to consult with a Wilton DCF defense attorney as soon as possible.
Without skilled legal representation, physicians who are the subject of a DCF investigation are at risk of facing certain penalties, including:
Even when a doctor assumes they did nothing wrong, it is best to consult a Wilton DCF defense lawyer for guidance during an investigation.
DCF takes any complaints of child abuse very seriously. If you are facing a situation like this, you need help from attorneys with experience defending Wilton doctors in DCF investigations. Contact Mark Sherman Law today, and read some of the 300+ certified reviews from satisfied past clients on our Avvo.com profile to learn more about what we can do for you.
