Showing 1 results

Archival description
Donaldson (Sir Liam) Archive BBC, British Broadcasting Corporation, 1922- Child abuse
Print preview Hierarchy View:

Audio recording of Sir Liam's appearance on BBC Radio 4 documentary Cleveland Twenty Years On

Analysis of the Cleveland Child Abuse Scandal, where between February and July 1987 121 children in Cleveland were diagnosed by Dr Marietta Higgs and Dr Geoffrey Wyatt as having been sexually abused and taken into care. Gives a narrative account of what led to the high profile crisis and it's impact on professional, media and public attitudes to child abuse and chld-protection, including interviews with some of the key people involved.

Sir Liam, who was the Regional Medical Officer to the Northern Regional Health Authority (including Cleveland) during the period, discusses the reaction of the medical profession, his meeting with Dr Higgs and Dr Wyatt, the unreliability of their diagnoses and how these events both prepared him for dealing with controversial issues as Chief Medical Officer for England and what he may have done differently.

Running time 27:32. Sir Liam's appearances at 13:55 - 14:48, 16:10 - 17:05 and 25:39 - 27:03.