Physical abuse

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause pain, injury, or other physical suffering or harm.

• striking
• punching
• pushing, pulling
• slapping
• Whipping
• striking with an object
• Locking in out of a room or place/False imprisonment
• pinching
• kicking
• having someone fall
• kneeing
• strangling
• drowning
• sleep deprivation
• exposure to cold, freezing
• exposure to heat or radiation, burning
• exposure to electric shock
• placing in “stress positions” (tied or otherwise forced)
• cutting or otherwise exposing somebody to something sharp
• exposure to a dangerous animal
• throwing or shooting a projectile
• exposure to a toxic substance
• infecting with a disease
• withholding food or medication
• spanking is subject to controversy as to whether it qualifies as physical abuse.
• assault
• bodily harm
• humiliation
• torture
• Blinding a person/causing vision impairments e.g. throwing acid into eyes/face, having eyes gouged out.
• negligence