Neglect and Medical Neglect
A general statement about abuse: Those who hold the least power and resources in
society are most often those who are abused (women, children, disabled, elderly). Bear in
mind that anyone can be abused, this includes men and women, rich or poor, educated or
illiterate, employed or unemployed - abuse is no respecter of persons or boundaries, and
can occur at any time during a person’s life.
Neglect
Not having one’s basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, or medical/dental attention met;
leaving a child alone when too young; emotional needs of touching and talking are unmet.
Difference between neglect and other types of abuse
The biggest difference between physical or emotional abuse and neglect is the fact that
neglected children do not receive attention from their parents. Abused children receive
attention even though it is negative attention, the parent is aware of the child, energy is
directed toward the child. Neglectful parents seem to not be aware of the child, they withhold
attention, do not stimulate the child, rarely make physical or emotional contact.
The emotional problems caused by parental neglect of a child are some of the hardest
things for a child to overcome.
Impact of neglect on children
- deprivation leading to detachment (the inability to emotionally attach to others)
- massive repression of feelings
- impaired ability to empathize with others
- violence
- delinquency
- decrease in general intellectual ability (due to lack of cognitive stimulation by the
parent)
Medical Neglect - when parents either do not understand or deliberately ignore medical or
dental problems in their child or children and do not get them medical or dental care or
attention. Medical neglect is often associated with general neglect but can occur separately
from general neglect. A parent can care for a child in all other ways and still neglect medical
or dental care of their child.
society are most often those who are abused (women, children, disabled, elderly). Bear in
mind that anyone can be abused, this includes men and women, rich or poor, educated or
illiterate, employed or unemployed - abuse is no respecter of persons or boundaries, and
can occur at any time during a person’s life.
Neglect
Not having one’s basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, or medical/dental attention met;
leaving a child alone when too young; emotional needs of touching and talking are unmet.
Difference between neglect and other types of abuse
The biggest difference between physical or emotional abuse and neglect is the fact that
neglected children do not receive attention from their parents. Abused children receive
attention even though it is negative attention, the parent is aware of the child, energy is
directed toward the child. Neglectful parents seem to not be aware of the child, they withhold
attention, do not stimulate the child, rarely make physical or emotional contact.
The emotional problems caused by parental neglect of a child are some of the hardest
things for a child to overcome.
Impact of neglect on children
- deprivation leading to detachment (the inability to emotionally attach to others)
- massive repression of feelings
- impaired ability to empathize with others
- violence
- delinquency
- decrease in general intellectual ability (due to lack of cognitive stimulation by the
parent)
Medical Neglect - when parents either do not understand or deliberately ignore medical or
dental problems in their child or children and do not get them medical or dental care or
attention. Medical neglect is often associated with general neglect but can occur separately
from general neglect. A parent can care for a child in all other ways and still neglect medical
or dental care of their child.