A 5-year-old girl is brought to the emergency department by her parents because of abdominal pain. Physical examination shows multiple bruises on the abdomen and thorax in different stages of healing. A chest x-ray shows hairline fractures of two ribs. The parents say that they do not know how she developed the bruises or the fractures. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?
A. Call the police immediately
B. Hospitalize the child for further studies
C. Notify Child Protective Services
D. Obtain a promise from the parents that they will not strike the child again
E. Take the child into protective custody
A. Call the police immediately
B. Hospitalize the child for further studies
C. Notify Child Protective Services
D. Obtain a promise from the parents that they will not strike the child again
E. Take the child into protective custody