Write an investigative plan to answer these questions. Who do you want to interv

Question

Write an investigative plan to answer these questions.

Who do you want to interview in this case?  

In what order would you like to interview them and why in that order?

List three or four questions you would want answered from each person.

You received a call from a social worker (Mary Adams) at Children’s Hospital regarding a 5 year old girl (Susie Smith) who presented at the Emergency Department with her mother (Jane Smith). It was reported the child fell down stairs at home and was injured.

The child was seen by Dr. Meredith Grey in the ED. The exam showed a break to the child’s right collar bone. Also noted were linear marks (3” long by .5” wide) across her lower back as well as some smaller linear marks on her upper arms (bilateral). She has minor bruising on her left and right shins.

When initially questioned by hospital staff, the child will only say she fell down stairs at home. When pressed to talk more about what happened, she will say her dad (Jim Smith) was mad at her when it happened.

Mom is questioned by hospital staff and she maintains that the child fell down the stairs. When staff asks about her husband, mom begins to cry and asks that they not contact him.

The physician believes the injuries are inconsistent with the history provided by mom and child and that there is possible abuse in the home. The doctor consults with the social worker who agrees with that assessment. Both make a report to authorities. It is being assigned to you as the investigator.  

Explanation / Answer

An investigative plan to interview this family and to probe details regarding this incident needs to be undertaken in orderto reach the core of this. The primary person to be interviewed in this case is the child himself. This is so because an entirely client centred approach seems ethical in the given scenario wherein the child is believed for whatever he offers to the investigating team. A personal and detailed interface with the child is therefore needed to get an insight into his perspective. A few questions to be asked are:

1. How is it that you have minor bruises on so many areas in your body despite the fact that it was a minor fall from the stairs?

2. You also mentioned that your dad was angry with you at the time. What was the reason behind this and what did he do about this?

3. Can you tell me about your relationship with your mom and dad? (To be investigated in detail)

4. Did anyone have a role to play in your getting hurt?

The next person to be interviewed in the case would be the mother who seems likely to admit the truth at the time. In case of a possible abuse, where there are chances of the father to be involved, eventually it is likely for the mother figure to stand by the truth for the sake of her child. All evidences are to be collected by recording the interfaces while questioning is on. Questions to be asked:

1. Where was your husband at the time when the child got hurt? (Also probing to be done regarding the family dynaics that operate at their place)

2. Does he often get mad at the child?

3. What is it that he does when he is angry?

Finally, the father is to interviewed without a hint that any possibility of suspicion is built around him. The questions could be as follows:

1. How do you spend time with your family at home?

2. How did the child get hurt? How is it that there were so many bruises at places where it was unlikely to occu in case of a simple fall from the stairs?

3. The child mentioned that you were angry at the time when he was hurt. What happened then? And how did you react when you were aggressive?

The biopsychosociocultural matrix can be drawn to study the profile of the child and to understand various factors that influence the child and his environment. This may provide additional help to understand what went through at the time when the incident occurred.

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