nine pages of BS from October AWAKE

by purplesofa 54 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  truthsetsonefree

  I just finished reading this and as has been mentioned it's not all BS. I even noted the text from Leviticus 18:6 on any relative laying bare nakedness. That is actually something that I had not noticed before.

  That having been said I do believe as has been mentioned many times that it doesn't alert readers to threats inside the congregation or for that matter even from parents. It may attempt to indirectly when it mentions that an abuser can be anyone the child knows and trusts. But that is not enough for some trusting JW who believes that nothing bad can actually happen unchecked in the congregation.

  The part about the last days is just plain pathetic, as if there were no child predators in ye olde days.

  Isaac
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  purplesofa

  I just finished reading this and as has been mentioned it's not all BS.

  I guess whats important is that the mingling of BS and good stuff, together, can happen in any article. What is different when it is literature directed to JW's is the manner in which it is to be taken in. There is no filtering of the BS from the good allowed.

  purps
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  JWdaughter

  I like how they mention that it is hard to believe that neighbors, coaches, health care workers, etc could lust after your child. They totally ignore the danger in churches/congregations. How about clergyman, elder or fellow congregation member? That is what is making the news constantly! And they neglect the way to protect a child who has been abused. Go immediately to the police. No matter WHO the assailant is. Would you go to your childs principal before the police? Would you expect the principle to be able to 'handle' the situation? NO. Why on earth doesn't it occur to those who are JWs to go to the police first and the elders later(if ever!)? That is a sick little world.
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  truthsetsonefree

  Something else that just came to mind is that the Awake is primarily written for a non-JW audience. I challenge the WT to write an article in the insiders WT magazine where they acknowledge that this is happening INSIDE the organization. The cowardly bastards will probably never do it. Or if they do there will be some spin to neutralize any appearance of a threat.

  Isaac
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  V1710

  purps,

  thanks for sharing your thoughts and all the work you put into scanning this magazine article. they need to WAKE up.

  As a victim of child abuse while in an institution I empathize with your anger and frustration. Denial of the events is like the abuse happening all over again. The Moose Club continues to deny and cover up abuse that happened and is happening to many children. When someone trys to speak up, they victim is the problem. There's no excuse for any of it.

  Keep up the good work.
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  hamsterbait

  I started a thread on this Awake! GRRRRR was all I could feel.

  Single people are labeled as having something wrong with them. Especially if they happen to get on well with children.

  You should sit in on your children's piano lesson.

  No mention of the dangers of leaving your kid with a sexy young MS or a dirty old Elder.

  I remember a friend visiting NY Bethel, and when they found out he was single at the ripe old age of 28, they asked him "are you homosexual?"

  THAT is how the WTBCS thinks. Of course by focussing attention on teachers, coaches, and other professionals, they hope the pedo elders will fall below the radar, and the R&F will not believe the facts they are presented with by 'postos.

  HB
• 

  purplesofa

  http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic369.htm

  History: Children suspected of being sexually abused require a behavioral, social, gynecologic, and general medical history. Sufficient information about the current incident of sexual abuse is needed to ensure that all needed evidence is properly collected.

  • In addition to information obtained from the child, details about the abuse should be obtained from other reliable sources, if possible.
    

  • Interview the parent or caregiver alone. Social workers and physicians should build rapport with the child in order to establish trust.
    

  • Possible warning signs regarding the social environment include the following:

  • Parents who share intimate feelings and emotions in front of their children
    

  • Parents who know little about the child's health or have vague recollections of past medical history
    

  • Parents who are overly concerned with custody issues

  • The history should also include questions regarding possible behavioral indicators of abuse.

  • Abrupt behavioral changes - Aggression, depression, suicidal behaviors, withdrawal, low self esteem, nightmares, phobias, regression, school problems

  • Self-destructive behaviors - Substance abuse, sleep disorders, prostitution
    

  • Sexualized behavior inappropriate for developmental level (eg, excessive masturbation, forcing sexual acts on other children)

  • Physical complaints

  • Foreign bodies in the vagina or rectum, genitourinary complaints, painful defection or urination, vaginal discharge, bleeding or itching, grasp or rope marks, oral complaints, STDs, or possible pregnancy
    

  • General somatic complaints including headaches, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, encopresis, and general fatigue

  • In adolescents, the gynecologic history should always include the following:

  • Date of last menstrual period, number of pregnancies, possible gynecologic surgery or traumatic injury to the genital area
    

  • Date of the last consensual intercourse and use of contraceptives
    

  • Prior STDs

  • Depending on local protocols, the forensic (investigative) interview may best be performed with the assistance of trained law enforcement officials or social workers from Child Protective Services. The forensic interview differs from a good medical history.

  • This interview is essential to prosecution of a case and is often a critical aspect of the evaluation.

  • The forensic interview is mostly concerned with detailed answers to who, what, where, and when the abuse occurred.

  • The forensic interview should not replace the medical history obtained by the health care provider from the child.

  • If possible, professionals in the field of child sexual abuse should interview children alone.

  • Children may spontaneously disclose abuse to the physicians during the physical examination.

  • The medical record should clearly document who was present when the child disclosed the information, what question or activity prompted the disclosure, and, if possible, the exact words spoken recorded in quotation marks.

  • Questions regarding the incident should be focused but not leading. For example: "What were you touched with?" is an appropriately focused question. "Did he touch you with his fingers?" is a leading question.

  • Children with special communication needs, such as children with developmental disabilities, may require sign language, use of assistive devices, or illustrations.

  • Family and social histories are vital to understanding the environment in which the abuse occurred.

  • A brief developmental history may be critical in legal aspects of a child's case and should be documented.

  Physical: Complete physical examinations in prepubertal children should include an examination of the external genitalia. Children who are suspected of being sexually abused may need an examination emergently, urgently, or electively scheduled for a later time with their own physician. If the child and family are adequately prepared for this examination, it will improve the diagnostic capability of the examiner.
  

  • Following an initial phone call from a parent or from a person from Child Protective Services, pediatric patients may be triaged for a medical examination to find evidence of sexual abuse.

  • Emergent examinations: Any child with acute bleeding or injury should be examined immediately. Children with a history of sexual contact within 96 hours of presentation should be examined for evidence of sexual abuse. Children in severe emotional or psychological crisis also deserve an emergent examination. Children exposed to HIV-positive alleged perpetrators need to begin HIV postexposure prophylaxis within 36 hours of exposure. Adolescents who wish to obtain pregnancy prevention need to be evaluated within 120 hours.
    

  • Urgent examinations may take place within 2-3 days of an incident of sexual abuse. Indications for an urgent examination include vaginal discharge, the possibility of STDs, and pregnancy in the pubertal child.

  • Delayed presentations are most common because children generally do not disclose abuse until they feel safe. This may occur months or years after the incident of abuse.

  • Other children may not disclose the abuse at all, and only behavioral indicators will be present.

  • If persons from Child Protective Services or law enforcement agencies request examinations of children with nonemergent cases, the examination can be deferred to a scheduled office visit or be referred to a child sexual abuse team.

  • The examination of a child who is involved in a custody situation is challenging. Whether the allegations of abuse are true or not, children involved in sexual abuse allegations must be considered to be victimized. An examination is almost always indicated.

  • Preparation of the child and family should be a part of every examination for sexual abuse.

  • The discussion should include the following:
    
    • Information regarding the need for an external examination of the genitalia
      

    • The fact that almost all prepubertal children do not need a speculum or internal examination
      

    • Information on the use of cotton-tipped swabs to check for infections (if determined that these will be needed)

  • If a colposcope will be used for the examination, children should be allowed to look at the equipment and look through the eyepieces or at the video screen. Parents and older children should be informed of the use of the equipment and given opportunities to consent to the use of photographs for legal documentation. Note: Consent for photographs may not be necessary if the case is under investigation by Child Protective Services, but it is recommended.

  • The examination of the external genitalia should occur as part of the natural progression of the complete head-to-toe pediatric examination.

  • Proper positioning of the child for the genitalia examination enables better visualization. Common positions for female prepubertal children include the supine-frog-leg position, the knee chest position, and use of the labial traction technique.

  • The male genitalia can be examined with the child supine or standing.

  • Abnormal findings that are suspicious for sexual abuse are rare.

  • Findings of sexual abuse in boys may include injuries to the glans, shaft of the penis, or scrotum. Anal findings are unusual but may include scars (most apparent if located off the midline), distorted or irregular folds, flattening of the anal folds, and poor anal tone.

  • Most cases of suspected or substantiated sexual abuse of prepubertal girls have normal examination findings. This may be due to elasticity of the hymenal tissue and genital mucosa and rapid healing of any injuries.
    
    • In most cases, children who are sexually abused are not physically injured (as in fondling), and the abuse does not leave physical evidence.
      

    • The normal crescent-shaped hymen is most common in prepubertal girls.
      

    • Other normal findings may include midline avascular areas, periurethral bands, longitudinal intravaginal ridges, superior and lateral notches, and some bumps and hymenal tags.
      

    • Other anatomical configurations of the hymen, which may normally be observed in prepubertal girls, include an annular hymen, fimbriated hymen, septate hymen, and microperforate hymen.

  • Physical findings in sexually abused prepubertal girls may include lacerations and bleeding of the genital area or more subtle chronic findings. Findings on the hymen should be documented by noting the location with the analogy of the hands of a clock. Findings may be significant for abuse.

  • A hymenal tear may result in a healed transection of the hymen.

  • Absence of all or part of the hymen, particularly in the posterior portion of the hymenal ring should be confirmed using different examination positions or techniques. For example, hymenal tissue may be adherent to part of the vaginal wall. Using a moist swab or drops of water to loosen the edge should clarify the finding.

  • Measuring the vaginal introital diameter is not necessary. When the examiner notices a subjectively large diameter, the hymenal rim should be observed for signs of narrowing and attenuation or absence of tissue. However, superficial notches in the hymen may be a normal finding.

  • Fresh lacerations or tears located in the genital area without a history of accidental trauma should be noted.

  • Other areas of the body should be inspected for signs of injury, including the oral pharynx for bruises to the hard or soft palate and grasp, rope, or tie marks on the extremities.

  Causes:

  • Risk factors

  • Parent abused as a child: Most perpetrators are not strangers but are known to the child (eg, stepfathers, uncles, mother's paramour). Female perpetrators are reported less often. Parents who have been abused do not always abuse their own children, but the risk for continued familial abuse is present.

  • Multiple caretakers for the child

  • Caretaker or parent who has multiple sexual partners

  • Drug and/or alcohol abuse

  • Stress associated with poverty

  • Social isolation and family secrecy

  • Child with poor self-esteem or other vulnerable state

  • Other family members (eg, siblings, cousins) abused

  • Gang member associations

  	DIFFERENTIALS	Section 4 of 10
  Author InformationIntroductionClinicalDifferentialsWorkupTreatmentMedicationFollow-upMiscellaneousBibliography

  Sexual Assault
  Trauma, Lower Genitourinary
  Vaginitis
  

  
  Other Problems to be Considered:

  Vaginal foreign body
  Urethral prolapse
  Shigella infection
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  DevonMcBride

  As a non-Witness, I still can't get over the juvenile style of writing they use in their publications. It's an insult to any any adults intelligence. I couldn't read past the first page without my acid reflux acting up. All of their writings reak of the same "pearly white" image they try to impose.
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  Burger Time

  This is what the captions on the scan should read

  
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  uninformed

  Good Job bringing this to us.

  By the way, as a side issue, did you guys notice the UN quotation that was on page 4 of the AWAKE?

  Momma is still sleeping with the beastie.

  Brants Wife