Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 20, 2026

An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
Published on: May 3, 2016
Detecting child abuse based on parental characteristics: does the Hague Protocol cause parents to avoid the emergency
Hester M Diderich1, Minne Fekkes2, Mark Dechesne3
1Emergency Department, Medical Centre Haaglanden, Lijnbaan 32, PO Box 432, 2501 CK The Hague, The Netherlands.
Objectives:
The Hague Protocol is used by professionals at the adult Emergency Departments (ED) in The Netherlands to detect child abuse based on three parental characteristics: (1) domestic violence, (2) substance abuse or (3) suicide attempt or self-harm. After detection, a referral is made to the Reporting Center for Child Abuse and Neglect (RCCAN). This study investigates whether implementing this Protocol will lead parents to avoid medical care.
Method:
We compared the number of patients (for whom the Protocol applied) who attended the ED prior to implementation with those attending after implementation. We conducted telephone interviews (n = 14) with parents whose children were referred to the RCCAN to investigate their experience with the procedure.
Results:
We found no decline in the number of patients, included in the Protocol, visiting the ED during the 4 year implementation period (2008-2011). Most parents (n = 10 of the 14 interviewed) were positive and stated that they would, if necessary, re-attend the ED with the same complaints in the future.
Conclusion:
ED nurses and doctors referring children based on parental characteristics do not have to fear losing these families as patients.
More Related Videos
11:14A Novel Experimental and Analytical Approach to the Multimodal Neural Decoding of Intent During Social Interaction in Freely-behaving Human Infants
Published on: October 4, 2015
08:08Author Spotlight: Capturing Infant-Caregiver Interactions Through Synchronized Multimodal Data Collection
Published on: May 31, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Parenting Styles
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
Conduct Disorder
Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development
Exploration...
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
Relationship with Parents: Attachment
Attachment