New hope for helping abused kids

A new pediatrics specialty is spurring hopes for better treatment of young abuse victims.
   
Child abuse pediatrics involves not only treating suspected abuse victims but coordinating with police and welfare workers and testifying in court hearings.
   
Desmond Runyan is a professor of social medicine and pediatrics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He says a lack of training makes some doctors reluctant to handle child abuse cases.
   
Practitioners hope the new specialty means more experts who can teach in medical schools, conduct research and be resources for general pediatricians.
   
In November, about 200 doctors are expected to sit for a child abuse pediatrics board examination offered for the first time by the American Board of Pediatrics.