Identification of Child

* Re “Parents Often Fought, Girl Testifies,” Nov. 18.

I am writing to express my profound disappointment in The Times’ decision to identify the child in this article by printing both her name and her age.

I believe, as a (retired) child mental health specialist, that it reflects a grave insensitivity and lack of understanding of the damaging impact this can have both in the immediate and long-term emotional health of any child to thus be so identified and publicly linked.

I believe an apology is in order, and that you should refrain from this practice in the future. Such traumatized children are most often very fragile and vulnerable. They very much need our wise discernment and protection lest we add to that trauma and they become victimized further.

DEE PRESS

Camarillo

* I want to express my upset and strong disagreement with your decision to identify the child in the article by name and age. Having to testify in this distressing case would be damaging enough, but it was wholly unnecessary to compound the trauma further by publicizing the child’s name.

MARIANNE SLAUGHTER

Camarillo