My other problem is with this idea that hospitals should report to the government about people being injured. People's medical records and injuries are not the business of the government and I don't believe hospitals should be required to report anything. If a crime was committed, the police can investigate the crime and as part of that investigation attempt to subpoena the medical information via a judge.
I agree on the part of not reporting injuries to the police ACCEPT when it becomes a suspected case of either spousal or child abuse. You just cannot turn your head when an infant/spouse comes into an emergency room with suspect injuries. They need to be protected, and if thats a liberty that Im surrendering then so be it.
I think on some level that's reasonable, but the system has been very much abused in the name of supposedly protecting children. A lot of innocent families have had to go through hell when they did absolutely nothing wrong. Even children that were abused end up in a foster care system that in many cases is actually worse. Our child protective services system is absolutely pathetic. I know it's generally a state system and can vary by state, but I doubt any state has it right.
As far as spousal abuse, I don't think I would agree on this one. You are dealing with a free adult. The way I look at it, if they suspect something, they should give the person all the options in the world to report it themselves or run or a shelter or whatever, but getting the police involved against their will starts to involve people's personal freedoms. And here's why.
In at least my state and probably most states, when Police are called to domestic violence situations, we were required by law to arrest someone and take them to jail if there was any suspision of a domestic violence crime. Just showing up to a house where it was reported that two people were yelling at each and when we arrive one has a black eye, that's enough to FORCE the cops to arrest someone.
Children are different than adults. They have no free will and lack decision making capabilities, so it's understandable why the state sometimes has to get involved. Even though we've been trained in our society that certain adults in abusive situations can't make decisions, the fact is, unless they are mentally incapacitated or retarded in some way, they are free adults just like you and me and the government has no business getting in their business unless they request it.
The one exception I might grant is if the abuser is on the premius of the hospital and it appears to be a kidnapping type situation, then I would have no problem with police getting involved and seperating the two people and allowing the supposed abusee the option of running or pressing charges.
