Elder Justice Roundtable: Agenda

8:15 - 9:00 a.m.

Continental Breakfast and Registration

9:00 - 9:15 a.m.

Welcome and Introduction
The Honorable Daniel Marcus, Associate Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice
D. Jean Veda, J.D., Deputy Associate Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice

9:15 - 10:15 a.m.

Detection and Diagnosis: What Are the Forensic Markers for Identifying Physical and Psychological Signs of Abuse and Neglect?
What is the current medical "state of the art?" Is there a difference in forensic markers for community abuse and neglect versus institutional abuse and neglect? How do we distinguish between abuse and neglect and conditions that result from other causes? How do we determine when explanations are contrived to conceal abuse and neglect? How well do physicians detect elder abuse and neglect?

10:15 - 10:30 a.m.

Break

10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Application of the Forensic Science: Integrating Medical Forensic Evidence With Law Enforcement
How should healthcare and law enforcement professionals work together in enhancing prosecution of cases involving elder abuse or neglect? What is the role of the medical examiner, the attending physician, the emergency room team, and others? What is the role for multidisciplinary teams? What can we learn from the child abuse and domestic violence areas? What type of forensic center(s) or forensic capability would be the most useful and feasible in diagnosing and pursuing cases of abuse and neglect?

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Education: What Training Is Needed for healthcare and Law Enforcement Professionals on Forensic Elder Abuse and Neglect Issues?
What topics should be taught so that healthcare professionals effectively serve as forensic evaluators of elder abuse and neglect? Does the variation from state to state of elder abuse reporting laws make education difficult and/or confusing? How do we encourage medical, nursing, social work, and public health schools to place elder abuse and neglect on their curricula? How do we encourage practicing physicians, psychologists, nurses, and other public health officials to develop an expertise in this area?

12:30 - 1:00 p.m.

Break - Pick up box lunch

1:00 - 1:50 p.m.

Research: Setting the Research Agenda to Improve the Forensic Science of Elder Abuse and Neglect
Where should research on elder abuse and neglect, and the development of forensic evidence thereof, be concentrated? What are the current gaps in medical knowledge? How should we prioritize the research agenda? How do we assure that the needed research occurs? What are the barriers to conducting the needed research? How can those barriers be removed or overcome? Is the failure to report elder abuse and neglect—by physicians and others—a problem in understanding the dimensions of the problem?

1:50 - 2:20 p.m.

Preparatory Time for Remarks

2:20 - 2:30 p.m.

Break

2:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Report Back to the Attorney General: The Honorable Janet Reno, Attorney General of the United States
What have we learned from today"s sessions? What are the challenges, success, and recommendations identified by participants? What will roundtable participants take back to their institutions/clinics/practices to further development of this field?

4:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Wrap-Up and Next Steps