Cleveland child abuse scandal
Encyclopedia
The Cleveland child abuse scandal occurred in Cleveland, England
in 1987, where 121 cases of suspected child sexual abuse were diagnosed by Dr Marietta Higgs and Dr Geoffrey Wyatt, paediatricians
at a Middlesbrough
hospital (in the now abolished county of Cleveland). After a number of court trials, 26 cases involving children from twelve families were found by judges to have been incorrectly diagnosed, and cases involving 96 of the 121 children alleged to be victims of sexual abuse were dismissed by the courts. In the other cases, the child was subject to a child-protection order, and some were removed from their parents' care permanently.
Some parents in this case directly engaged journalists in contesting the child-protection interventions. Media coverage focused particularly on a technique, known as reflex anal dilatation
, that had been used to diagnose sexual abuse in some children. In 18 of the suspected cases, anal dilatation was the only medical evidence of abuse, though media coverage erroneously indicated that Higgs and Wyatt had relied solely on this indicator. Dr Higgs experimented with this test on her own children and, finding a negative result, concluded that any positive result must mean the child had been abused, although that is too small a control group to give any definitive answers.
The media also failed to report that some of the children's families had documented histories of abuse. Seventeen of the children lived with fathers or other relatives who had already been convicted of sexual offences, and several other children were outpatients after their parents had been registered as having harmed their children. However, of these families, most were subsequently cleared.
While in foster care the children continued to be regularly examined by Dr. Higgs. She subsequently accused foster parents of further abuse and they too were arrested.
Following the media outcry, a public inquiry
was enacted, led by Elizabeth Butler-Sloss. The judicial inquiry found that the pediatricians had "acted properly" and the report supported the manner in which they had applied the reflex anal dilatation
test. This finding contradicted the decision of the judges involved in the case, who had stated that the test was "controversial".
On March 21, 2007, people affected by the scandal spoke on British daytime TV lifestyle show This Morning
about what happened in 1987. During the interview it was revealed that Marietta Higgs is still in practice at a hospital in Gillingham in Kent
. On May 21, 2007 Higgs said in an interview with BBC Look North
that she would do the same again based on the facts and also said that she suspected the numbers being abused were even greater than the 121 named.
A number of the children taken away and subsequently returned are now complaining of the traumatic effect the sexual abuse of Drs. Higgs and Wyatt had upon their childhood and frustration that their behaviour has never been subject to any criminal investigation.
Cleveland, England
Cleveland is an area in the north east of England. Its name means literally "cliff-land", referring to its hilly southern areas, which rise to nearly...
in 1987, where 121 cases of suspected child sexual abuse were diagnosed by Dr Marietta Higgs and Dr Geoffrey Wyatt, paediatricians
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
at a Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
hospital (in the now abolished county of Cleveland). After a number of court trials, 26 cases involving children from twelve families were found by judges to have been incorrectly diagnosed, and cases involving 96 of the 121 children alleged to be victims of sexual abuse were dismissed by the courts. In the other cases, the child was subject to a child-protection order, and some were removed from their parents' care permanently.
Some parents in this case directly engaged journalists in contesting the child-protection interventions. Media coverage focused particularly on a technique, known as reflex anal dilatation
Reflex anal dilatation
Reflex anal dilatation is the reflexive dilation of the human anus to a diameter greater than two centimeters in response to the parting of the buttocks or anal stimulation, such as brushing with a medical instrument...
, that had been used to diagnose sexual abuse in some children. In 18 of the suspected cases, anal dilatation was the only medical evidence of abuse, though media coverage erroneously indicated that Higgs and Wyatt had relied solely on this indicator. Dr Higgs experimented with this test on her own children and, finding a negative result, concluded that any positive result must mean the child had been abused, although that is too small a control group to give any definitive answers.
The media also failed to report that some of the children's families had documented histories of abuse. Seventeen of the children lived with fathers or other relatives who had already been convicted of sexual offences, and several other children were outpatients after their parents had been registered as having harmed their children. However, of these families, most were subsequently cleared.
While in foster care the children continued to be regularly examined by Dr. Higgs. She subsequently accused foster parents of further abuse and they too were arrested.
Following the media outcry, a public inquiry
Public inquiry
A Tribunal of Inquiry is an official review of events or actions ordered by a government body in Common Law countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland or Canada. Such a public inquiry differs from a Royal Commission in that a public inquiry accepts evidence and conducts its hearings in a more...
was enacted, led by Elizabeth Butler-Sloss. The judicial inquiry found that the pediatricians had "acted properly" and the report supported the manner in which they had applied the reflex anal dilatation
Reflex anal dilatation
Reflex anal dilatation is the reflexive dilation of the human anus to a diameter greater than two centimeters in response to the parting of the buttocks or anal stimulation, such as brushing with a medical instrument...
test. This finding contradicted the decision of the judges involved in the case, who had stated that the test was "controversial".
On March 21, 2007, people affected by the scandal spoke on British daytime TV lifestyle show This Morning
This Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
about what happened in 1987. During the interview it was revealed that Marietta Higgs is still in practice at a hospital in Gillingham in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. On May 21, 2007 Higgs said in an interview with BBC Look North
BBC Look North
BBC Look North is a name used by the BBC for its local regional news programme in three regions in the North of England:*BBC Look North for the BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire region*BBC Look North for the BBC Yorkshire region...
that she would do the same again based on the facts and also said that she suspected the numbers being abused were even greater than the 121 named.
A number of the children taken away and subsequently returned are now complaining of the traumatic effect the sexual abuse of Drs. Higgs and Wyatt had upon their childhood and frustration that their behaviour has never been subject to any criminal investigation.