Abuse by care professionals. Part 1: an introduction.

It is often the most vulnerable members of society that suffer from the physical, psychological, sexual, financial, neglectful and/or discriminatory maltreatment that characterizes the multifaceted nature of abuse. Individuals dependent on care, whether in the remit of health and social care or educational support, may suffer from abuse at the hands of care professionals. This article introduces a series on abuse with a focus on the various definitions of abuse and the historical and international context of mistreatment.