Walk It Through: The Report

At the first opportunity and within 48 hours, and the department's own clock after.

A pharmacist has reasonable cause to believe a child customer has been abused.

Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.

A pharmacist and a supervisor. What counts as abuse or neglect, the immunity a good faith report carries, and the confidentiality of the reporter are not worked through here.

A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.

Words this turns on

Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.

Mandated reporterOne of the people the section lists, such as clergy, practitioners, law enforcement officers, school personnel, nurses and child care providers, who on reasonable cause to believe a child has suffered abuse or neglect reports it at the first opportunity, and in no case longer than 48 hours after.