Health: Dear Abby urges reporting suspected child abuse after witness accounts in store

A reader who witnessed a mother slap her child in a store asked Dear Abby whether to speak up or report the incident. In a column published by the New York Post on Sept. 25, 2025, the advice columnist Abigail Van Buren urged bystanders to consider the child’s safety and to take action when abuse is suspected. The guidance aligns with official public health priorities that emphasize safeguarding vulnerable children and ensuring timely intervention when harm is suspected.

Abby said mature parents do not use physical punishment to discipline a child in public or private. When a child acts out, she wrote, the appropriate response is to remove the child from the store until calm is restored. If the situation in public suggests ongoing abuse, bystanders should consider documenting what they observed and report the incident to child protective services so authorities can investigate. In the published exchange, Abby noted that if she had witnessed the scene she would have snapped a picture of the three of them as well as the mother’s vehicle license plate and filed a report with CPS to trigger an investigation.

The Dear Abby column also included other letters about personal boundaries and family financial matters. One reader asked how to respond politely when pressed about past employment, preferring not to discuss a long-ago career. Abby advised simple, nondefensive responses and suggested turning the conversation back to the other person’s work. In another note, a person recounted loaning $10,000 to a sister three years earlier and facing a strained relationship as repayment stalled; Abby recommended formalizing terms with a notarized agreement and considering legal avenues if repayment remains unresolved. These itemized responses illustrate how the column blends health-adjacent concerns—such as safeguarding children and reducing stress in family finances—with broader personal well-being.

Experts in child welfare emphasize that bystander intervention is a critical component of public health. When adults witness potential abuse, reporting to child protective services or calling emergency services if there is an immediate danger can facilitate early assessment and connect families with needed services. Health professionals note that timely reporting can reduce the risk of ongoing harm and may help connect families with counseling, parenting resources, and protective supports. As with many health-related issues, the goal is to protect vulnerable individuals while providing pathways to safety and support.

For those who witness suspected abuse, guidance from authorities generally centers on safety first. If the danger is immediate, contact emergency services. If the situation is less urgent but concerning, contact the local child protective services agency or police to file a report and document observations, including dates, times, locations, and any evidence that supports concerns. Health officials caution against confrontations that could escalate risk for the child or others in the environment, and they encourage bystanders to preserve safety while ensuring concerns reach the appropriate authorities. By framing bystander actions as a public health measure, communities aim to reduce harm and promote early intervention for children and families in distress.