Medical experts are typically called on by personal injury lawyers involved in many different types of cases, including car accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, and medical malpractice. But many child sex abuse lawyers have also started to rely on medical experts and their testimony.

Medical experts can provide important testimony for child sex abuse lawyers to help strengthen their cases while they’re presenting them in court. Find out how these attorneys benefit from working with them below.

Assessing Child Sexual Abuse Injuries

Child sex abuse lawyers may have to deal with evidence of an extremely sensitive nature that can be difficult for those without a medical background to make objective sense of, especially in a case where emotions are likely already running high.

The defense teams in such cases might also attempt to argue that what prosecutors are putting forth as proof of sexual abuse could just as well be the result of injuries sustained while children were riding bikes or playing sports.

This is where medical experts can step in and offer their assistance. These are usually doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals who can examine evidence like this and provide their opinions on whether injuries children have suffered are consistent with sexual abuse.

By corroborating evidence like this, medical experts can have a big impact on child sex abuse cases. As unrelated third parties, they have nothing to gain by giving false testimony and are there simply to provide an analysis of the evidence presented to them for consideration.

Using DNA Evidence To Identify Bodily Fluids

DNA evidence has been used within the criminal justice system in the U.S. for about 40 years and has helped solve countless cases. It’s also routinely relied upon by child sex abuse lawyers presenting child exploitation cases in court.

One of the many ways to prove a child was sexually abused is by collecting any bodily fluids found on their clothing or body. These bodily fluids can include:

• Saliva
• Blood
• Seminal fluid

Child sex abuse lawyers may choose to call medical experts to testify about the DNA evidence collected from these bodily fluids. This can help them bolster their cases against those accused of sexually abusing children by creating a DNA link.

Offering Expert Testimony on STIs and Pregnancies

If child sexual abuse victims have sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, or even HIV/AIDS, this doesn’t automatically mean they have been sexually abused. It also doesn’t necessarily prove that specific suspects gave one or more of these STIs to them.

However, it can suggest victims may have been sexually assaulted. It can also serve as key evidence if those suspected of sexually abusing them are found to have the same STIs.

Medical experts can analyze STI tests and other evidence to reveal whether or not victims have STIs. They can evaluate other evidence to conclude whether or not victims may have become pregnant during sexual assaults and offer their professional insights on a topic like this as well.

Contact Us To Speak With One of Our Trusted Child Sex Abuse Lawyers

Child sex abuse lawyers utilize all the possible resources available to them during cases, including medical experts. They’re known to work closely with medical experts and count on them to help prove their cases in front of judges and juries.

The child sex abuse lawyers from The Cifarelli Law Firm can help you build a case by tracking down the right evidence and calling appropriate witnesses to the stand. Call us at 949-409-6324 today to set up a free consultation with our experienced legal team.