When discipline becomes child abuse

As stated in the Michigan Child Protection Law under section 2, item f, "Child abuse" means harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare that occurs through nonaccidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or maltreatment, by a parent, a legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child's health or welfare or by a teacher, a teacher's aide, or a member of the clergy. The recent "spanking" case brought to trial in Livingston County has prompted public debate over whether corporal punishment is simply discipline or whether it should be considered abuse. .

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