The Children's Bureau has proposed a law requiring physicians to report instances of suspected child abuse. Value of the model legislation lies in ordering conflicting values held by physicians, extending rational management of abuse problems, and facilitating detection of dangerous situations. But the proposed law has drawbacks: Focus is on the patient to the exclusion of siblings who may also be mistreated. Hazards for the injured child may be augmented by the caretakers' fear of prosecution. Reporting to a social agency appears preferable to reporting to the police. Physicians have much to contribute toward effective laws to protect children from abuse.