Commonwealth v. Baldwin

During the jury trial which led to the defendant’s conviction of statutory rape 1 and indecent assault and battery on a child under fourteen, 2 three categories of evidence were received: the testimony of the complainant; the fresh complaint testimony of the complainant’s mother; and medical records from two hospitals at which the complainant was examined. A principal ground for reversal urged on appeal — we think persuasively — is that it was error to admit so much of a hospital record as recited, “Diagnosis: Sexual molestation.” We also consider a problem of legibility, the sufficiency of…