Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Physical abuse
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause pain, injury, or other physical suffering or harm.
Basic forms
Basic forms
- 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
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]