The ripple effect of the Penn State Scandal:

I will begin this post with the statement:

THIS IS NOT A BAD THING.

I'll say it again:

THIS IS NOT A BAD THING.

Got it? I say this for those posters who will "decide" that I'm complaining about being forced to go to this Continuing Education Seminar: and you know who you are....

OK...

Last night 400 dentists, hygienists, and office staff gathered for a MANDATORY two hour lecture on the NEW MANDATORY REPORTAGE LAWS in the Commonwealth concerning Child Abuse. The gist of it was that all members of any team which are licensed by the State to perform services, doctors, dentists, hair dressers, chiropractors, funeral directors, and so on, are by law, REQUIRED to report DIRECTLY TO ENFORCEMENT if child abuse is suspected. It is now INAPPROPRIATE for the staff member to simply report it to the supervisory individual - he or she MUST report it to the State authorities.

What is fascinating is that many individuals who are abusers are "smart" enough to avoid doctors and emergency rooms, but often don't realize that the dentists and other professionals are trained and required to report. Failure to report may become problematic if a pattern develops, although I would posit that criminal conviction of the professional or staff member might be extremely difficult, however, given the courts these days, not impossible by a long shot.

The requisite horrendous photographs they showed are haunting...