Mandatory reporting

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Mandatory reporting, in some parts of the USA and Australia is the protocol whereby - primarily - those who work with children are required by law to report to the relevant child welfare authorities anything of a prescribed nature (usually evidence of potential child abuse) that comes to their attention in the course of their duties.

In South Australia, for instance, a school teacher must report a child attending school seeming malnourished or presenting with bruising, complaining of neglect or otherwise demonstrating neglect or abuse at home. In addition, doctors must report on sexual misconduct regarding children.

It has been argued that the category of "mandatory reporters" should be expanded to members of the clergy, however in some more traditional denominations the conflict this creates with the "confessional" makes this unworkable.

Mandatory reporting arguably has broader application to ensure compliance by citizens with regimes imposed upon them by the state.

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