§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the indication of anal reflex and dilatation accompanied by additional symptoms is standard practice for diagnosing child abuse.
§ Mr. MellorThe diagnosis of child sexual abuse is a matter for medical practitioners to reach based on the history of the case as well as any symptoms and physical signs that might be present. Recent guidance to doctors from the standing medical advisory committee makes it clear that no physical sign (of which reflex anal dilatation is an example) can at present be regarded as being uniquely diagnostic of child sexual abuse.